West Nile-Positive Mosquitoes Found in Plainfield

Submitted by the Will County Health Department

Mosquito samples collected from a Will County Health Department monitoring site in Plainfield tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV).

The samples were collected July 20-22 by Will County Environmental Health. It represents the county’s second WNV confirmation for 2015. Samples collected from a Bolingbrook monitoring site (Will County has 14 monitoring sites for 2015), yielded a virus-positive sample July 8.

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Through July 22, Will was one of 23 Illinois counties to report WNV activity. The state has reported at least 90 virus-positive mosquito samples and four virus-positive birds.

Approximately 1.5 percent of mosquito samples collected from across the state have tested WNV-positive to date. Some 2.7 percent of birds submitted to the state have been WNV-positive.

WNV is a mosquito-borne disease transmitted to humans during a blood meal. The Culex pipiens mosquito initially acquires the virus by feeding on crows, blue jays, and other perching birds.

In humans, WNV may produce mild, flu-like symptoms or no symptoms at all. However, more serious infections may result in meningitis or encephalitis, dangerous inflammations of the brain or spinal chord. Illinois has recorded at least 127 WNV-related fatalities since 2002.

You can protect yourself against WNV by avoiding outdoor activity during the early dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active. When spending time outdoors, wear shoes, socks, long sleeves and pants. Insect repellent is also strongly advised.

Environmental Health operates a 24-hour WNV Information Line. You can report the location of dead birds and access general WNV information at 815-740-7631.