Health & Fitness

1st West Nile Mosquitoes Of Year Found In Glenview, Morton Grove

The North Shore Mosquito Abatement District said 2 batches of mosquitoes tested positive Wednesday for West Nile virus.

GLENVIEW, IL — The first mosquitoes to test positive for West Nile virus in Illinois this year were collected last week in Glenview and Morton Grove, according to public health officials. The North Shore Mosquito Abatement District collected the mosquitoes Friday, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. The district said two batches of mosquitoes tested positive Wednesday.

No people in Illinois have yet been infected by West Nile virus in 2018, but last year there were eight deaths and 90 reported human cases of the virus. Human cases often go unreported, and four out of five people infected will not show symptoms, the health department said. Symptoms can include headache, muscle aches, nausea and fever. They can last anywhere from days to weeks.

“As we see higher temperatures, we will start to see more West Nile virus activity,” Illinois Department of Public Health Director Nirav Shah said in a release.

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West Nile virus is spread by mosquitoes who feed on infected birds, so the IDPH recommended that anyone who encounters a sick or dying bird contact their local health department to see if it should be picked up for testing. Health officials also recommend reducing places mosquitoes can enter buildings or make homes for themselves by securing screens and report locations where you see standing water stagnant for more than a week to local health departments or municipalities.

“Although we see West Nile virus in Illinois every year, don’t become complacent. It’s easy to take precautions to protect yourself by wearing insect repellent and getting rid of standing water around your home," Shah said.

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The North Shore Mosquito Abatement District has planned targeted adult mosquito control operations in parts of Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles and Skokie between the hours of 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. Thursday, if weather permits.


Top photo via Shutterstock


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