Mosquitoes test positive for West Nile in Saline, White
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Tests conducted by the Egyptian Health Department has confirmed West Nile virus positive batches of mosquitoes in Saline, Gallatin and White Counties, including the towns of Shawneetown, Harrisburg and Carmi.
Public health officials at the department began surveillance for the West Nile virus in May by trapping and testing adult mosquitoes throughout the three counties. Additionally, they collect a limited number of sick or dying birds for West Nile virus testing.
The virus is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird. Common West Nile virus symptoms include fever, nausea, headache and muscle aches. Symptoms may last from a few days to a few weeks. However, four out of five people infected with West Nile virus will not show any symptoms.
In rare cases, severe illness including meningitis or encephalitis, or even death, can occur. People older than 50 are at higher risk for severe illness from West Nile virus.
Officials at the agency say the best way to prevent West Nile disease or any other mosquito-borne illness is to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and to take personal precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Precautions include practicing the three "R's" - reduce, repel and report.
Reduce
Residents can reduce exposure by avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are most active, especially between dusk and dawn.
The agency also encourages the people make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens and repair or replace screens that have tears or other openings. It's best, they say, to keep doors and windows shut, especially at night.
Even in a drought residents can eliminate sources of standing water where mosquitoes can breed such as water in bird baths, ponds, flowerpots, 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
In communities where there are organized mosquito control programs, residents can contact their municipal government to report dead birds and areas of stagnant water in roadside ditches, flooded yards and similar locations that may produce mosquitoes.
"The mosquitoes that typically carry West Nile virus, commonly called the house mosquito, are not as noticeable as the swarms of floodwater mosquitoes we see during rainy summers," said state Public Health Director Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck. "Even if it does not look like there are a lot of mosquitoes out, house mosquitoes are stealthy biters and their virus infection rate is increasing rapidly, so make sure to use insect repellent."
Additional information about West Nile virus can be found on the Illinois Department of Public Health's website at http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/wnv.htm. Residents can also contact Egyptian Health Department with questions, to report potential mosquito breeding sites, or sick or dying crow, blue jay, robin, or other perching birds.