West Nile Virus not found in county

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PRINCETON — The recent rains and flooding has caused an increase in mosquitoes ... but not the West Nile Virus-carrying kind.

Linn Haramis, an entomologist with the Illinois Department of Public Health, said the recent hot weather has contributed to an increase West Nile Virus (WNV) activity in birds and mosquitoes.

 “We are still behind last year in the number of human cases and in the number of counties reporting at least one positive sample,” Haramis said. “However we have still a month of potentially hot weather to go.”

The recent flooding in Illinois will produce “buckets” of floodwater mosquitoes, but those types of mosquitoes rarely carry WNV, Haramis said.

On Wednesday, the Illinois Department of Public Health announced a total of 14 human WNV cases were confirmed this year.

“I want to remind people in flooded areas and throughout the state to continue to protect themselves against the common house mosquito which does carry West Nile Virus,” IDPH Director Eric Whitaker said. “West Nile Virus can cause illness, from mild to severe, and even death in some cases, so people need to remember to wear insect repellent with DEET and protect themselves when outdoors.”

Carey Panier of the Bureau/Putnam County Health Department said Bureau County has still seen no positive WNV activity this year, in mosquito, bird, horse or human. However, several area doctors have screened their patients for WNV, but the screening results she’s seen have all been negative.

The local health department is still testing weekly for infected mosquitoes, but that testing will wind down as the state grant for the testing diminishes, Panier said. Birds may still be submitted until Oct. 15 for WNV testing.

“The season for West Nile Virus is definitely not over,” Panier said. “People need to take the same precautions as before, especially with all our evening football and soccer games.”

In other WNV-related news, people donating blood and organs may now be tested for the West Nile Virus.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced approval of a second test for the detection of West Nile Virus in blood and organs.

Dr. Jesse L. Goodman of the FDA said WNV is usually transmitted to humans by mosquitoes, but it can also be transmitted by blood transfusion or organ transplantation from infected donors. Local blood centers and hospitals now have a choice of two FDA-approved tests to screen for West Nile Virus in donated blood and organs, he said.

So far this year, 25  Illinois counties have reported positive WNV activity, include the neighboring counties of Lee and Whiteside.

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