The Vermilion County Health Department says some mosquitoes collected east of Georgetown have tested positive for West Nile Virus. The mosquitoes were collected at the Harry ‘Babe’ Woodyard State Natural Area. It is the second positive mosquito sample for West Nile this year. The first positive sample was found earlier in the Ridge Farm Area.
A head hawk found in the Woodbury Hill area, west of Danville, in late July was also found to be positive for West Nile Virus.
The virus can be transferred to humans by the bite of a Culex mosquito if the mosquito has bitten an infected bird.
Symptoms of West Nile Virus can include fever, body aches, joint pains, headaches, vomiting, diarrhea, or a rash, and can last up to several weeks. There have been no human cases in Vermilion County, but the Illinois Department of Public Health says there have been two human cases of the virus so far this year in the state.
Public Health officials say to reduce your risk of getting West Nile Virus….
- Reduce your exposure by staying indoors when mosquitoes are most active – especially between dusk and dawn;
- Make sure windows and doors have tight-fitting screens and repair or replace screens if need be.
- Eliminate all sources of standing water where mosquitoes can breed – including water in bird baths. Ponds, flower pots, wading pools and old tires.
- When outdoors wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, and apply insect repellant containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus according to label instructions. Consult a physician before using repellents on infants.
Each year during the months of May through September, Environmental Health Staff members from the Vermilion County Health Department set out mosquito traps throughout the county. The trapped mosquitoes are collected and tested for the West Nile Virus. There are currently 19 traps at locations scattered across the county.
