The Illinois Department of Public Health has confirmed the season’s first mosquito pool positive for West Nile virus in Rockford, Winnebago County. Last year, the state saw 69 human cases and 13 related deaths, underscoring ongoing concerns. The virus is most commonly spread through bites from Culex mosquitoes. Residents are urged to eliminate standing water, use insect repellent, and take precautions during dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, emphasizing the importance of community vigilance to reduce risk and prevent additional transmission as mosquito activity increases.
“The news of the first batch of mosquitos carrying West Nile virus is a reminder for Illinois residents to begin protecting themselves from diseases caused by mosquito and tick bites,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “The best defense against West Nile virus is to practice the ‘Three R’s’: reduce, repel, and report’. IDPH urges everyone, and especially those who are older or have weakened immune systems, to ‘Fight the Bite’ and protect themselves and their families from mosquitoes and the viruses they carry.”
Last year in Illinois, IDPH reported that 72 counties around the state reported positive tests for WNV in mosquitoes, birds, horses, or humans. There were 69 confirmed human cases of WNV, according to IDPH data, and 13 human deaths, the highest number since 17 deaths were recorded in 2018.
- REDUCE- 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.Eliminate, or refresh each week, all sources of standing water where mosquitoes can breed, including water in bird baths, ponds, flowerpots, wading pools, old tires, and any other containers.
- REPEL- when outdoors, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a light-colored, long-sleeved shirt, and apply an EPA-registered insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, IR 3535, para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone according to label instructions. Consult a physician before using repellents on infants.
- REPORT – report locations where you see water sitting stagnant for more than a week such as roadside ditches, flooded yards, and similar locations that may produce mosquitoes. The local health department or city government may be able to add larvicide to the water, which will kill any mosquito larvae.
