West Nile Virus
After a long and very cold winter here in Chicago, spring is finally here! So now is the time to remember to protect your home and family from West Nile Virus. West Nile has been in Illinois since 2001. In 2005 and 2006 there were several hundred human cases and several deaths from this potentially deadly disease.
According to the CDC, the chance of becoming ill from a single mosquito bite is low. However, in about 80% of cases, there are no symptoms of the disease. It is more common for adults over 50 to contract the disease. Potential symptoms are fever, headache, body ache, nausea or vomiting, and swollen lymph nodes.
It is easy, however, to guard you home and family against this disease. West Nile Virus, which can lead to encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of tissues around the spinal cord and brain), is transmitted by mosquitos’ bites. To prevent mosquito bites, adults should wear an insect repellent containing up to 35% DEET from dawn until dusk when mosquitoes are most active. Children from 2 months to 12 years should use repellents containing up to 10% DEET and babies less than 2 months old SHOULD NOT use a repellent containing DEET. When used according to manufactures directions, these mosquito repellents are safe. You can also wear long sleeved shirts and pants or use mosquito netting while sleeping outside and to protect small babies.
Once a week, you should also drain standing water around your home to eliminate mosquito breeding sites. Install or repair screens in doors or windows. Offer to help friends and neighbors who may not e able to do this on their own. Report dead birds to your local health department, birds can carry and multiply the disease. You can get information on contacting your local health department through the Health-E Illinois website. Search under West Nile Virus and your local health department will be listed under Public Health Services.
For more additional information, I recommend you visit Health-E Illinois partner Illinois Department of Public Health. (http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/wnv.htm). They have posters available as well as audio clips with lots of information on the virus. Also see information at Medline Plus (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/westnilevirus.html) or at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm)
By Sam Meyer
