First Case of West Nile Virus Reported in 2013

The Illinois Department of Public Health confirmed the first West Nile virus positive mosquito batch reported in Illinois for 2013.

A batch of mosquitoes collected from Hillside in Cook County on May 21 tested positive for the West Nile virus. No human cases of West Nile virus has been reported so far this year, according to the press release.

“Although we have been seeing a lot of what we call ‘nuisance’ mosquitoes due to the flooding, those mosquitoes typically do not carry West Nile virus,” Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck, Illinois Department of Public Health Director said in a statement. “We are now starting to see Culex mosquitoes, which often do carry disease.”

The first West Nile virus positive result in 2012 was a crow collected by the Chicago Department of Public Health on May 16, 2012.

Last year, 55 counties in Illinois reported a West Nile virus positive mosquito batch, bird and/or human case.  

For the 2012 season, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported the second highest number of West Nile virus human cases in state history with 290 residents and 12 deaths. This was second only to the 2002 outbreak in Illinois in which 884 residents contracted West Nile disease and 67 died.  

Virus Symptoms

According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), roughly 80 percent of people infected by West Nile Virus do not show any symptoms. Milder symptoms, including fever, headache, body aches, nausea and vomiting, are common among the roughly 20 percent who do show symptoms.

While the vast majority of infected people show no symptoms, about one in 150 may develop severe symptoms. These can include high fever, disorientation, coma, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis, according to the CDC.

Adults older than 50 are more at risk of developing serious symptoms, and should be more cautious about avoiding mosquito bites.

Prevention Tips

When it comes to personal protection, health officials boil it down to two words: wear repellent.

“Residents should start taking precautions by wearing repellent around dusk and dawn, and loose light color clothing,” according to Dave Zazra, communications manger for NSMAD. “Basically cover as much skin as possible.”
 
A complete list of tips to avoid mosquitoes from breeding on your property can be found on the North Shore Mosquito Abatement District website.