Public Service Announcement

 Date 08.01.2023

Contact: Arissa Hunt

First West Nile Virus Positive Mosquito Samples Detected

Kendall County Health Department is reporting today that a mosquito batch collected in Yorkville has tested positive for West Nile Virus.  This is the first positive sample for the County this season.  Positive mosquito batches have also been found in several other areas of Northern Illinois, including DuPage, Kane, DeKalb, LaSalle, and Will counties.

The Kendall County Health Department Officials would like to remind citizens that the risk of West Nile Virus infection is greatest from now through the first hard frost in the fall and to take appropriate actions in order to protect themselves.  So far this year, several Illinois counties have reported positive test results through either mosquito or bird samples.  Although no human cases of West Nile Virus have been identified yet in Illinois this year, the positive test results indicate that the virus is in our area and residents should take necessary precautions to protect themselves from mosquitoes.

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.  Kendall County Health Department recommends the following precautions:

• Eliminate all sources of standing water that can support mosquito breeding, including water in bird baths, ponds, flowerpots, wading pools, old tires, and any other receptacles.
• 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 repellents.
• 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.

While most people infected with West Nile virus do not develop any symptoms, the majority of those who do develop a fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. Most people with febrile illness due to West Nile virus recover completely, but fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or months. In few cases, people who are infected develop a severe illness affecting the central nervous system and can have symptoms of severe illness include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis, potentially leading to death. Severe illness can occur in people of any age; however, people over 60 years of age are at greater risk for severe illness if they are infected. People with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, and people who have received organ transplants, are also at greater risk.

Additional information on West Nile virus and West Nile virus surveillance can be obtained by calling the Environmental Health Unit at the Kendall County Health Department, (630) 553-8026 or visit the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Web site at www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/wnv.htm.

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