West Nile Virus Confirmed in Skokie

From the community ~

The Skokie Health Department works diligently each summer to monitor mosquito activity in the Village in order to lower the risk of West Nile Virus (WNV) infections.

This week one mosquito pools has tested positive for WNV (RAMP-test) in Skokie.  There have been no human WNV cases reported in Skokie for 2012, but this may change over the next few weeks and the Skokie Health Department urges residents to take precautions to prevent mosquito bites.

Measures you can take to reduce your risk of being bitten include: staying indoors at dawn, dusk or early evening; wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants whenever you are outdoors; spraying clothes with repellants and wearing protective clothing if spending time in a heavily wooded area; and, applying insect repellents containing DEET very sparingly on exposed skin.

Property owners can eliminate mosquito breeding areas in the following manner:

• Remove standing water where mosquitoes can breed.
• Clean and maintain any catch basins that may be on the property.  The North shore Mosquito Abatement District will treat your catch basin for mosquito larvae.  For more information, please call them directly at 847/446-9434.
• Change the water in birdbaths and plant pots at least once a week.
• Empty plastic pools at the end of each day and store indoors.
• Keep grass and shrubbery cut short.  Adult mosquitoes accumulate in cool, shady areas.
• Keep gutters clean and free-flowing.  Eliminate dips and low areas that collect water.
• Don’t let water stand on flat roofs.

Most people infected with the virus will have few or mild symptoms including fever, headache, body aches, skin rash and swollen lymph nodes.  Severe infections can include headache, high fever, stiff neck, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, paralysis and rarely death.  Symptoms generally occur three to 14 days following the bite of an infected mosquito. 

Anyone can get WNV, however, people over 50 years old or individuals with a weakened immune system have the highest risk of developing severe illness.  If you experience any of these symptoms you should contact your personal physician.

If you find a dead bird it is important to contact the Skokie Health Department to collect the bird for testing.  Historically, some birds have tested positive for WNV, and results from testing help to determine the extent of WNV activity.  To report a dead bird, please call 847/933-8484.

For more information on WNV or to report potential mosquito breeding sites, please contact the Skokie Health Department at 847/933-8484 or the North Shore Mosquito Abatement District at 847/446-9434.