Health & Fitness
Mosquitoes Test Positive For West Nile Virus In McHenry County
It's the first reported batch of mosquitoes with the virus so far this year, county health officials said Thursday.
MCHENRY COUNTY, IL – A mosquito batch collected on June 18 in a trap in Woodstock has tested positive for West Nile Virus, according to a news release from the McHenry County Department of Health. The positive test for West Nile Virus is the first so far this year in McHenry County. No human cases of the disease have been reported as of this point in the county, health official said.
MCDH will continue to collect and test mosquito batches throughout the remainder of the season, which runs through mid-October, and will accept a limited number of dead birds for testing. It is important to remember that the risk of WNV remains until the first hard frost. Residents should continue to use insect repellent when going out of doors in the evening and wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants for extra protection, according to a news release.
Other tips include emptying standing water from containers around the house and making sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens.
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Illness from West Nile virus is usually mild and includes fever, headache and body aches but serious illnesses, such as encephalitis and meningitis and death, are possible. Those over 50 years old have the highest risk of severe disease.
The Health Department reminds residents that due to the recent flooding and rain there will continue to be large numbers of floodwater or nuisance mosquitoes. Although floodwater mosquitoes can be very aggressive, daytime biters, they are not significant vectors for human disease such as West Nile Virus in Illinois.
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