Mosquitoes With West Nile Virus Found In Skokie, Wilmette

NORTHFIELD, IL — The North Shore Mosquito Abatement District announced the first mosquitoes of samples collected in Skokie and Wilmette tested positive this week for West Nile virus.

So far in 2019, mosquitoes with West Nile virus have been found in Evanston, Glencoe, Glenview, Kenilworth, Northfield and Winnetka, according to the north suburban Cook County mosquito abatement district.

The samples of the West Nile-positive mosquitoes in Wilmette and Skokie were collected last Wednesday and tested positive in the district's lab on Tuesday.

The highest numbers of samples with the virus have been found in Glencoe, where three of 26 batches — or 11.5 percent of samples — have tested positive.

Last year, there were 17 reported deaths as a result of West Nile virus among 176 confirmed human cases, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Humans contract the virus from mosquitoes, who catch the virus from drinking the blood of birds infected with the virus.

That's why health officials recommend residents contact their local health department should they encounter sick or dying birds.

For infected humans, symptoms can include fever, nausea and aches and last from a few days to several weeks. But many human cases go unreported, since about 80 percent of those infected will not show any symptoms, according to public health offices.

Although the risk of human infection is currently low, public health officials urged residents to take steps to protect themselves from mosquito bites and eliminate any potential mosquito breeding sites around their homes.

"While we see West Nile virus in Illinois every year, it is important not to become complacent," said Ngozi Ezike, acting director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. "It's easy to take precautions to protect yourself by wearing insect repellent and getting rid of standing water around your home."

Standing water, biting mosquito activity or dead bird sightings can be reported online to the mosquito abatement district or county health department.

Earlier:
First Mosquitoes With West Nile Virus Found On North Shore »
Mosquitoes With West Nile Virus Found In Kenilworth, Northfield »
Chicago's Mosquito Problem Among Worst In Nation »