Oswego To Get Sprayed Down For Mosquito Control Thursday Night

OSWEGO, IL — In an effort to prevent the spread of the mosquito-borne West Nile Virus, Oswego's mosquito control contractor, Clarke, will be spraying throughout the village beginning at dusk Thursday.

The process will continue into the morning hours, staff said in a Facebook post. Clarke uses a program that surveils an area's mosquito population, larval control and adult mosquito control to minimize population spread.

To help stop the spread, residents who have birdbaths, baby pools or downspout drains — mosquito breeding grounds — on their properties can tip standing water out every two to three days to help eliminate larvae from developing.

Village staff recommends DEET-based repellent along with long shirts and pants when going outdoors.

The spraying comes a couple of weeks after the fourth West Nile Virus-positive mosquito was found in Will County. The first insect was found in Homer Glen earlier this summer, and the three subsequent mosquitos were found in separate traps in Bolingbrook July 28 and Aug. 9.

The disease spreads through the bite of a Culex mosquito that picks up the virus by feeding on infected birds. Symptoms of West Nile Virus include fever, nausea, headache and muscle aches that can last from a few days to a few weeks.

No human cases have been reported in Illinois so far this year, according to the Will County Health Department.

Those interested in being placed on Clarke's automated call list for future sprayings can contact the company's hotline at 800-942-2555.

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