North Shore's First West Nile Virus Positive Mosquitoes Of 2024 Found

NORTHFIELD, IL — The first mosquitoes of the year to test positive for the West Nile virus in the North Shore Mosquito Abatement District were found last week in Northfield, district officials announced.

A batch of mosquitoes collected on June 5 tested positive for the virus Tuesday. It was the district's 152nd batch of the season to be tested and the seventh to come from Northfield, according to its weekly report.

Last year, the mosquito abatement district tested 1,158 samples of mosquitoes and found West Nile virus in 318 of them — more than 27 percent of those collected.

The district, established in 1927, includes all or part of Deerfield, Evanston, Glencoe, Glenview, Golf, Kenilworth, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northbrook, Northfield, Skokie, Wilmette, and Winnetka.

District officials urged residents to adopt preventative measures to reduce the risk of mosquito bites, including insect repellents, loose-fitting clothes and avoiding being outdoor around dawn and dusk.

West Nile virus can cause a range of effects in people. Although about four of five cases generally go undetected, some people can experience severe symptoms can that can lead to diseases such as encephalitis or meningitis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one of 150 people infected with the virus will suffer a serious illness.

Despite the confirmed presence of West Nile among mosquitoes, the risk of getting infected remains low, officials said, encouraging property owners to getting rid of areas of standing water to prevent mosquito breeding.

The last human outbreak of West Nile virus in Cook County occurred in 2012, when there were 20 human cases in the North Shore district. There were only 34 cases recorded in the subsequent decade.

Earlier: First Human Case Of West Nile Virus In 2023 Reported In Lake County