Health Department reminds residents of West Nile virus risk

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The dog days of summer bring hot weather, but they also bring the peak of the West Nile virus season. While no West Nile virus activity has been reported in Lake County yet this season, a human case has been identified in Kane County and several surrounding counties have identified mosquito pools that have tested positive for West Nile. The Lake County Health Department/Community Health Center is urging residents to prevent West Nile virus by protecting themselves from mosquito bites. 

“Late July through September has traditionally been the peak of the West Nile virus season, when people are at their highest risk of contracting the virus through the bite of an infected mosquito,” said Irene Pierce, the Health Department’s executive director. 

“Residents should continue to be vigilant about protecting themselves and their families from mosquito bites.”

Recommendations to prevent mosquito bites include:

• Whenever possible, limit outdoor activity at dusk.

• Wear light-colored clothing that minimizes exposed skin and provides some protection from mosquito bites.

• Keep mosquitoes outside by fixing or installing window and door screens. Make sure the screens fit tightly and that all holes are repaired.

• Whenever applying mosquito repellent to exposed skin, always follow label directions. The most effective repellents contain DEET, which is an ingredient used to repel mosquitoes and ticks. The more DEET a repellent contains the longer time it can protect you from mosquito bites.

• Whenever possible, avoid application of repellent to bare skin, applying only to clothing.

• Don’t give mosquitoes a place to breed in your yard – drain standing water, empty water from buckets, cans, pool covers, flower pots, etc.

• Adults are at highest risk for West Nile virus. People over age 50 and organ transplant recipients are more likely to develop serious symptoms and should take special care to avoid mosquito bites.

West Nile virus is contracted from the bite of a mosquito infected with the virus. 

While most people infected with WNV have no symptoms of illness, some may become ill with headache, high fever, muscle weakness and sometimes a skin rash. These symptoms usually appear three to 15 days after the bite of an infected mosquito. The virus may occasionally cause serious complications. Information about WNV can be found by calling the Health Department’s West Nile Virus hotline at 847-377-8300 or on the Department’s Web site at: http://www.co.lake.il.us/health/ehs/westnile.asp.