1st West Nile Positive Mosquitoes Found In Lake County

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — Health officials announced Tuesday a batch of mosquitoes trapped in Highland Park last week tested positive for West Nile virus. The sample provided the first confirmation of the presence virus in Lake County during 2018, according to the Lake County Health Department.

Last year in Lake County, there were 104 batches of mosquitoes and one bird that tested positive for the virus, health officials said. And since 2002, there have been 64 confirmed human cases of West Nile virus in the county as well as two confirmed deaths.

“In 2017, there were six human cases of West Nile virus confirmed in Lake County,” said Mark Pfister, executive director for the Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center. “Residents need to take action, practicing the 4 Ds of Defense to protect themselves from mosquito bites.”

The "4 Ds" include draining standing water, defending against bikes with mosquito repellant, dawn and dusk protection and dressing appropriately – long sleeves, pants and closed toed shoes were recommended – when outdoors.

The Lake County Health Department’s Mosquito Surveillance Program manages the county's mosquito trapping operations. Samples are tested every week for the presence of West Nile virus. The program also checks out areas with stagnant water for mosquito larvae and reports of dead birds, which can be an early sign of the virus.

“Culex pipiens mosquitoes, which are the primary carriers of West Nile virus, are most abundant in mid- to late summer, when the weather is hot,” said Michael Adam, senior biologist for the health department. “Residents can help prevent these mosquitoes from breeding by eliminating areas of stagnant water from their properties – items like buckets, gutters and plant containers, kiddie pools, and any other items holding water around homes and businesses – can become breeding sites.”

The first mosquitoes in the state to test positive for the virus in 2018 were found in May in Glenview and Morton Grove. The first human case of the virus was confirmed last week as a Chicago woman in her 60s.

Although Lake County health officials had not confirmed the presence of the virus prior to the June 28 Highland Park sample, just across Lake Cook Road, mosquito samples collected by the North Shore Mosquito Abatement District from Glencoe and Northbrook have tested positive for the virus in recent weeks. The district has detected 12 positive batches out of more than 500 collected so far this year.

Statewide, there were eight deaths among 90 reported human cases of the virus in 2017. Symptoms can include fever, nausea, headache and muscle aches and can take up to about two weeks after a bite to manifest. About 80 percent of people infected will not show any signs of infection, but older people and those with weaker immune systems are most vulnerable to suffer sever illnesses related to the virus, which can include meningitis or encephalitis.

The risk of human infection with West Nile virus is low, but health officials said it is increasing, with recent heavy rains and high heat providing the right conditions for mosquitoes populations to grow. Residents have been urged to check their homes and property for any items that can hold standing water they may have overlooked.

“We encourage you to stay active outdoors this summer, but take precautions to protect yourself and your family from mosquitoes," said Pfister, the health department's director.

To report areas of stagnant water, locations of dead birds or to get more information about the signs and symptoms of West Nile, call the Lake County Health Department's West Nile hotline at 847-377-8300.

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