Wilmette's 1st West Nile Positive Mosquito Of The Year Found

WILMETTE, IL — The first mosquitoes found in Wilmette that have tested positive for West Nile virus were found July 16 and tested positive two days later, according to the North Shore Mosquito Abatement District. With three positive samples and two in Kenilworth, every municipality in the north Cook County district had reported mosquitoes with West Nile virus recorded positive testis as of Friday, July 20.

The district said 1o4 of the 933 batches of mosquitoes recovered from traps in 2018 had tested positive. The level of West Nile virus on the North Shore is moderate but still increasing, according to the district.

According to the July 25 weekly report from the district, the number of nuisance mosquitoes – without West Nile virus – declined between July 14 and 20.

The county mosquito abatement district recommended that residents take care to get rid of any items that may be holding water on their property. Recommended personnel protection measures include insect repellent, avoiding dawn and dust and wearing loose-fitting clothing.

Wilmette is now the only municipality in the North Shore Mosquito Abatement District where no West Nile-positive mosquitoes have been found.

This week, health officials confirmed two new human cases of West Nile virus. In early July, a 38-year-old Aurora woman and a Wheaton woman in her 50s tested positive for the potentially fatal virus, which is spread from infected birds to mosquitoes and then to humans, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The Aurora resident told doctors she had recently visited Wisconsin Dells roughly a week before the appearance of the appearance of symptoms of the virus, which include fever, body, rashes, headaches and diarrhea.

"Regardless of whether or not the woman contracted the virus while in Wisconsin Dells, it is important to note that West Nile Virus is active this summer," county health officials said.

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