LaSalle County Health Department issued the following announcement on Sept. 4.
The LaSalle County Health Department received confirmation that crows from Ottawa and Peru tested positive for West Nile virus. The Ottawa bird was collected and tested on August 31, 2018.
The Peru bird was collected and tested on September 4, 2018. Environmental Health staff was able to conduct the confirmatory test on the birds at the Health Department. To date, the following West Nile virus activity in birds and mosquitoes has been documented for 2018:
|
Additionally, the first human case of West Nile virus was reported last week. West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito. Common symptoms include fever, nausea, headache and muscle aches. Symptoms may last from a few days to a few weeks. However, four out of five people infected with West Nile virus will not show any symptoms. In rare cases, severe illness including meningitis or encephalitis, or even death, can occur. People older than 60 and immunocompromised individuals are at higher risk for severe illness.
Remember to take some simple precautions to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and protect yourself from being bitten. According to Chris Pozzi, Director of Environmental Health, “West Nile virus activity is widespread throughout the county and it is important citizens remember to protect themselves against mosquito bites and possible West Nile virus infection.”
Minimize being outdoors when mosquitoes transmitting West Nile virus 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
contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR 3535, according to label instructions. Consult a
physician before using repellents on infants.
Eliminate all sources of standing water where mosquitoes can breed, such as old tires, buckets and other
receptacles, or refresh the water in bird baths, flowerpots and wading pools every couple days.
A complete listing of West Nile virus statistics for LaSalle County is available on the Health
Department’s web site at www.lasallecounty.org. A state-wide listing is available at the Illinois
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up