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News
West Nile virus found in Montgomery mosquitoes : News : Oswego Ledger-Sentinel : Hometown Newspaper for Oswego and Montgomery, IllinoisWest Nile virus found in Montgomery mosquitoes
| Health department reminds area residents to take precautions
| by John Etheredge
| 7/19/2012
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Mosquitoes collected in the Village of Montgomery this past week tested positive for the West Nile Virus, according to the Kane County Health Department.
The mosquito batch from Montgomery was one of five batches collected throughout the county that have been found to have the West Nile Virus.
Other contaminated batches were found in traps in Aurora and Carpentersville.
The infected Montgomery mosquitoes were trapped near the village's downtown.
A statement issued by the health department reads: "With this year's hot, dry weather, these results come as no surprises. We usually see first evidence of West Nile beginning in July or August. And although it has been extraordinarily dry, the few intermittent showers we've experienced are enough to leave small pools of stagnant water where the Culex mosquito, the species associated with the disease, can breed. Now is a good time to inspect your yard for areas that can collect water and remove it."
Jeff Zoephel, the village's acting village administrator, said the village, as in previous years, has contracted with Clarke Environmental Mosquito Management, Inc. of Roselle for mosquito control services.
Zoephel said Clarke crews utilize two methods to control the village's mosquito population: spraying from a helicopter and trucks, and depositing larval control briquettes in storm sewers, ditches and other areas were mosquitoes breed.
Zoephel noted that this year for the first time a village public works department vehicle is riding along with the Clarke crews when they are spraying for mosquitoes.
Over the past several years Pete Heinz, a village board member, has said he believes the Clarke crews were driving their truck too fast for the spray to be effective.
Only about two people in 10 who are bitten by a West Nile-infected mosquito will experience any illness, according to the health department. Illness from West Nile is usually mild and includes fever, headache and body aches, but serious illness, such as encephalitis and meningitis, and death are possible. Persons older than 50 years of age have the highest risk of severe disease.
According to the health department, West Nile Virus is transmitted through the bite of a 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 four days after the bite of an infected mosquito.
The health department reported one human case of West Nile last year and five cases in 2010.
Mosquito batches caught in the trap in downtown Montgomery tested positive for West Nile twice in 2010.
The best way to prevent West Nile disease or any other mosquito-borne illness is to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and to take personal precautions to avoid mosquito bites, according to the health department. The precautions include:
_Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are most active, especially between dusk and dawn.
_When outdoors, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, and apply insect repellent that includes DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus according to label instructions. Consult a physician before using repellents on infants.
_Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have tears or other openings. Try to keep doors and windows shut, especially at night.
_Change water in birdbaths weekly. Properly maintain wading pools and stock ornamental ponds with fish. Cover rain barrels with 16-mesh wire screen. In communities where there are organized mosquito control programs, contact your municipal government to report areas of stagnant water in roadside ditches, flooded yards and similar locations that may produce mosquitoes.
Additional information about West Nile virus can be found on the Kane County Health Department's website at kanehealth.com.
People also can call the IDPH West Nile Virus Hotline at 866-369-9710 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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