No Local Reports of West Nile Virus

So far this summer, Will County has yet to see any confirmed cases of West Nile Virus in birds, mosquitoes or humans. Last week, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported the first WNV-positive birds were discovered in LaSalle County, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control have reported a single, non-fatal case of human infection in Mississippi.

However, June’s wet weather could present a buggy problem as we head into what are typically warmer and drier months of July and August. Mosquitoes love the wet weather and anyone spending time outdoors has probably had an encounter with the pests. Those mosquitoes are pretty much pests; they will bite, but not cause much harm other than make a person itch, according to local health officials.

Once the weather turns dry, a different kind of mosquito begins to breed, the Culex pipiens. This specific type of mosquito breeds in stagnant water and also spreads West Nile virus, said David W. Hass, communications manager for the DuPage County Health Department.

“We could go into a dry spell at any time, the potential is there for a lot of stagnant water,” Hass said. “But nobody knows what will happen for sure. The potential is there for hot, dry weather and stagnant water to create conditions for West Nile mosquitoes.”

The West Nile virus is known as a flavivirus, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Researchers believe West Nile virus is spread when a mosquito bites an infected bird and then bites a person.

July and August tend to be warmer and drier creating conditions perfect for the West Nile-carrying mosquitoes, Hass said. The significant rainfall the area has experienced recently creates perfect conditions for the mosquitoes should a dry spell occur.

People should continue to go about their lives, taking precautions such as wearing mosquito repellent with DEET or protective clothing.

“Almost anything does help,” Hass said. “The main thing is that people try to protect themselves.”

But Hass doesn’t want people to curtail their outdoor activities, whether it's gardening, going to picnics or baseball games.

Those most at risk for becoming severely ill from West Nile virus are usually over 50, have a compromised immune system or other health problems, he said. If a healthy person gets West Nile virus they may never even realize it because they may suffer only a minor headache.

In Will County, officials track the spread of West Nile thorugh mosquito monitoring sites. Residents are also urged to report any dead bird sitings, which could also be an indication of West Nile infection, by calling its .

The DuPage County Health Department offers some precautions for avoiding West Nile or any other mosquito-borne illness including:

• Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are most active, especially between dusk and dawn.

• When outdoors, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, and apply insect repellent that includes DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR 3535 according to label instructions. Consult a physician before using repellents on infants.

• Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have tears or other openings. Try to keep doors and windows shut, especially at night.

• Eliminate all sources of standing water that can support mosquito breeding, including water in bird baths, ponds, flower pots, wading pools, old tires and any other receptacles. In communities where there are organized mosquito control programs, contact your municipal government to report areas of stagnant water in roadside ditches, flooded yards and similar locations that may produce mosquitoes.

Source: DuPage County Health Department

Here are a list of symptoms related to a mild disease, generally called West Nile fever:

• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Headache
• Lack of appetite
• Muscle aches
• Nausea
• Rash
• Sore throat
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Vomiting

These symptoms usually last three to six days.

More severe forms of disease, which can be life threatening, may be called West Nile encephalitis or West Nile meningitis, depending on what part of the body is affected. The following symptoms can occur, and need prompt attention:

• Confusion or changes in ability to think clearly.
• Loss of consciousness or coma.
• Muscle weakness.
• Stiff neck.
• Weakness of one arm or leg.

Source: National Center for Biotechnology Information

Romeoville Patch Editor Shannon Antinori contributed to this story.