Mosquitoes test positive for West Nile – Belleville News Democrat
Mosquitoes collected in St. Clair County are the first to test positive for West Nile virus this year in Southern Illinois .
The St. Clair County health department collected the positive mosquito sample Tuesday in Shiloh.
The first positive mosquito batch collected this year in Illinois was June 10 in Tazewell County. The first birds to test positive for the virus were collected June 8 in LaSalle County.
"These first West-Nile-virus-positive mosquito samples and birds should remind us that we need to protect ourselves against mosquito bites, especially when we start to see warmer and drier conditions," said Dr. Damon Arnold, state public health director. "I urge everyone to get rid of any stagnant water around their homes to reduce the number of mosquitoes, and to make sure you wear insect repellent to protect yourself."
West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that has been infected with the virus by feeding on an infected bird. Most people with the virus have no clinical symptoms of illness, but some may become ill three to 15 days after the bite of an infected mosquito.
Only about two people in 10 who are bitten by an infected mosquito will experience any illness. Illness from West Nile is usually mild and includes fever, headache and body aches, but serious illness such as encephalitis, meningitis and death are possible.
People older than 50 years of age have the highest risk of severe disease.
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