Don’t put away your spray!
PRINCETON — Now is not the time to slack off when it comes to protecting yourself against the West Nile Virus, said Carey Panier, director of health protection for the Bureau/Putnam County Health Department.
“Despite the fact that none of the mosquitoes or birds tested so far (in Bureau and Putnam counties) have been positive, there is still an imminent risk of getting West Nile Virus,” Panier said. “Just because we haven’t had any positive tests does not mean there are not positive birds and mosquitoes out there.”
On Wednesday, Illinois Department of Public Health director Damon Arnold confirmed the first human West Nile Virus case reported in Illinois for 2010. The case involved a DuPage County woman in her 50s who became ill in early August.
West Nile Virus season is not finished and won’t be as long as Bureau and Putnam counties continue to have warmer weather, Panier said. Cooler nights may slow down the virus and mosquito activity, but West Nile Virus is typically not finished for the season until there are a couple consecutive days of frost or freezing, Panier said. Even then, some infected mosquitoes may “winter” over.
With so many autumn sporting events, more people than usual may be outside during the optimum mosquito biting times between dusk and dawn. People need to take precautions such as wearing long pants, long-sleeved shirts, socks and shoes when outdoors. They should also apply insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR 3535. They should also make sure their windows and door screens are tight fitting and free from any holes, Panier said.
The local health department is no longer trapping and testing mosquitoes, which is a routine part of the department’s West Nile surveillance plan each year. All mosquito pools tested this year were negative for the virus.
However, the local health department is still collecting eligible dead birds to send to the state for testing. Testing of eligible dead birds will continue through Oct. 15. So far this year, one dead bird from each county (Bureau and Putnam) have been sent for testing, but both birds tested negative for the virus, Panier said.
Statewide, 25 of Illinois’ 102 counties have reported mosquito batches or birds testing positive for West Nile Virus. The virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird. Most people with the virus have no clinical symptoms of illness, but some may become ill three to 15 days after the bite of an infected mosquito.
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