The Vermilion County Health Department reports a batch of mosquitoes recently collected in rural Westville has tested positive for West Nile Virus. It is the first to test positive for the virus this year in the county according to Jana Messmore, Vermilion County’s Director of Environmental Health.
Messmore says staff members have collected 80 mosquito trap samples since May. She says each year the Department sets mosquito traps throughout the county from May through September. Trapped mosquitoes are collected and tested for West Nile Virus.
During the mosquito season the Environmental Health Division asks the public to assist in reporting birds that appear to have died of natural causes, but which may have West Nile Virus. You can call the Vermilion County Health Department to report such birds at (217) 431-2662, extension 5. The birds are collected and submitted to the University of Illinois’ Veterinary School laboratory to be tested for the virus.
There have not been any positive birds reported in Vermilion County this year. The virus can be transmitted to humans by the bite of the Culex mosquito if the mosquito has bitten an infected bird.
The Illinois Department of Public Health reports that as of September 13, 2024, there have been 34 human cases of West Nile Virus in the state. Of the total 14,315 mosquito samples collected in Illinois, 19.3 percent have tested positive for the virus. So far, 66 of the 102 counties in Illinois have reported that either mosquitos or birds in those counties have tested positive for West Nile Virus.
There are some simple precautions you can take to avoid getting bitten by mosquitos. The Illinois Department of Public Health recommends practicing three “R’s” — reduce, repel, report.
Reduce exposure by avoiding being outdoors when mosquitos are most active – especially between dusk and dawn.
Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have been torn or have other openings. And try to keep doors and windows shut, especially at night.
Eliminate all sources of standing water where mosquitoes can breed, including water in bird baths, ponds, flower pots, wading pools and old tires.
REPEL – When outdoors, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. And apply insect repellant that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR 3535, according to label directions. Consult a physician before using repellents on infants.
REPORT – In communities where there are organized mosquito control programs, contact your local municipal government.
“Currently, the Department has 19 traps set throughout the county. We’ve processed about 80 samples which amounts to roughly 4,000 mosquitos,” said Lee Schuler, environmental health inspector. “This provides an excellent window into possible insect borne disease pools in our county,’’ added Schuler. “It’s a simple preventative program that allows us to immediately uncover and act on vector borne disease issues before it starts to affect our residents.”
{**Information for this story was provided by the Vermilion County Health Department.}
