West Nile virus detected in mosquitoes in Boone County
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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BELVIDERE — The Boone County Health Department said Friday that routine testing detected this year’s first case of West Nile virus in mosquitoes.
The mosquitoes were collected Wednesday in the 61008 ZIP code, which covers Belvidere and some areas of Boone County. There have been no human or animal cases of the virus in Boone County this year.
Health officials announced the positive test Friday and encouraged residents to take precautions.
“The best way to prevent West Nile encephalitis and other mosquito-borne illnesses is to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and neighborhood and take personal precautions to avoid mosquito bites,” Amanda Mehl, public health administrator of Boone County Health Department, said in a news release.
A few thousand mosquito batches test positive for the virus in Illinois each year, with a total 3,108 last year and 1,186 so far this year, according to data from the Illinois Department of Public Health. There were 69 human cases last year resulting in 13 deaths. There have been three human cases this year and no fatalities. Last year had the highest number of deaths since 17 in 2018.
A mosquito pool in Rockford previously tested positive for the virus in May. It was the first location in the state to record a positive test this year.
West Nile is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird. Common symptoms include fever, nausea, headache and muscle aches, which can last from a few days to a few weeks.
Health officials say you can reduce exposure by eliminating any standing pools of water where mosquitoes may breed, stay indoors during active mosquito times between dusk and dawn, wear long sleeves and pants, and apply EPA-registered repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR 3535.
To report a dead bird that doesn’t show any signs of trauma, call the Boone County Health Department at 815-544-2951.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas
