Evanston Warns Residents: West Nile Virus Season Starts Soon

The West Nile Virus season is just around the corner and Evanston’s Health Department is reminding residents that as temperatures warm up mosquitoes will grow, reproduce and be able to transmit the disease to residents.

In 2012 a warm spring and hot, dry summer resulted in more mosquitoes and more than 10 human cases of West Nile Virus in Evanston. 

“We ask that residents look at their properties to locate standing water or items that could possibly hold standing water,” said Evonda Thomas-Smith, the City’s health director. “Mosquitoes that carry the virus hatch their eggs in stagnant water. Even very small amounts of water collected at the bottom of a plastic cup can harbor mosquito larva.” 

The City is advising residents to take precautions to avoid mosquitoes and practice the three “R’s”- reduce, repel and report.”

• REDUCE exposure - avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are most active, especially between dusk and dawn. 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, especially at night. Eliminate all sources of standing water where mosquitoes can breed, including water in bird baths, ponds, flower pots, wading pools, old tires and any other receptacles.
• REPEL - when outdoors, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, and apply insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR 3535, according to label instructions. Consult a physician before using repellents on infants.
• REPORT - beginning May 1, report dead birds or areas of stagnant water in roadside ditches, flooded yards and similar locations that may produce mosquitoes to the Evanston Health Department by calling 3-1-1 or online at: www.cityofevanston.org/311.