Photo via Pixabay
By Sam Borcia | Lake & McHenry County Scanner
Health officials are warning the public and offering tips after a batch of mosquitoes tested positive for West Nile virus for the first time this year in Lake County.
A mosquito “pool,” also known as a batch of mosquitoes, was sampled on June 12 in Highland Park and tested positive for West Nile virus.
The Lake County Health Department said this week that this mosquito pool is the first confirmed indicator of West Nile virus presence in Lake County in 2024.
“We expect mosquitoes every summer, but it’s important to remember that they can also carry diseases like West Nile virus,” said Mark Pfister, 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 from a potentially deadly disease,” Pfister said.
The health department recommends the public practice the “4 Ds of Defense” to protect themselves and family from mosquitoes:
- Drain: Drain standing water from items around your home, yard, and business.
- Defend: When outdoors, use an insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, 2-undecanone, or IR3535 and reapply according to label directions.
- Dawn and Dusk: Protect yourself all day and night, and wear repellent outdoors during these prime times for mosquito activity.
- Dress: Wear long sleeves, pants, and closed-toe shoes when outdoors to cover your skin.
Culex pipiens mosquitoes, which are the primary carriers of West Nile virus, are most abundant when the weather is hot.
More here.
Leave a Reply