First West Nile Positive Mosquitoes Of 2025 Confirmed In Highland Park

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — The first batch of mosquitoes to test positive for West Nile virus this year in Lake County was found in Highland Park, the Lake County Health department announced Tuesday.

The Southlake Mosquito Abatement District collected a batch of mosquitoes from a trap in Highland Park on June 24. This mosquito pool is the first confirmed indicator of West Nile virus presence in Lake County in 2025.

“Mosquitoes are an expected part of summer, but they also carry diseases that can lead to serious illness and even death,” said Chris Hoff, Executive Director of the Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center. “We can take steps to ‘Fight the Bite' to protect ourselves and our families while we enjoy all that summer has to offer.”

Culex pipiens mosquitoes are the primary carriers of West Nile virus and they typically breed in stagnant water. Items like buckets, gutters, plant containers and kiddie pools can be prime areas for these insects to lay their eggs.

To minimize mosquito bites, resident should:

• use an EPA registered insect repellent
• wear loose fitting clothing and avoiding peak mosquito feeding times during the hours around dawn and dusk
• examine their property and eliminate any items that can hold water, particularly smaller items that may be easily overlooked.

“With the warmer weather, people spend more time outdoors and mosquitoes become active,” said Alana Bartolai, Ecological Services Program Coordinator at the Health Department. "From late-Spring to Fall, we set traps around Lake County and monitor weekly for this public health threat.”

In 2024, 154 out of 723 mosquito pools tested positive for West Nile virus. There were six human cases of West Nile virus. Since 2002, there have been 86 confirmed human cases of West Nile virus in Lake County, aswell as five confirmed deaths.

If a person is infected with West Nile virus, they can develop a fever or a mild headache. Severe symptoms can include a rapid onset of a high fever with head and body aches, disorientation, tremors and convulsions.

According to the Southlake Mosquito Abatement District, in the most severe cases, paralysis or death may occur. Those who are 50 years of age or older are at the highest risk for serious illness. Symptoms typically occur within three to 14 days after the bite from an infected mosquito.

In Lake County, mosquitoes are tested weekly for West Nile virus. The Lake County Health Department’s Mosquito Surveillance Program also tests dead birds and investigates areas of stagnant water for the presence of mosquito larvae.