Southern Seven Health Department issued the following announcement on July 17.
Southern Seven Health Department (S7HD) has confirmed the first mosquitoes to test positive for West Nile Virus from the lower seven counties of the state in 2019. S7HD Environmental staff collected the positive mosquitoes in Massac County in early July. No human cases of West Nile virus have been reported so far.
The recent rains and flooding in this part of the state are leaving pools of water behind, which encourage mosquito harboring. “As we start to see higher temperatures, we will start to see more West Nile virus activity,” said Acting IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike, “While we see West Nile virus in Illinois ever year, it is important not to become complacent. It’s easy to take precautions to protect yourself by wearing insect repellent and getting rid of standing water around your home.”
Monitoring for West Nile virus in Illinois includes laboratory tests for mosquito batches, dead crows, blue jays, robins and other perching birds, as well as testing sick horses and humans with West Nile virus-like symptoms. People who see a sick or dying crow, blue jay, robin or other perching bird should contact their local health department, which will determine if the bird will be picked up for testing.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Southern Seven Health Department
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