After a long and very cold winter here in Chicago, spring is finally here! Or so they tell us. This years cold, very rain spring has the potential to produce millions of mosquitos that could carry the West Nile Virus (WNV).
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.
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. 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 information on WNV in Illinois, visit Illinois Department of Public Health’s West Nile Virus home page (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. The IDPH has issued its first WNV news release and will continue to monitor WNV cases throughout the summer.
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)
