Friday, August 10, 2012
Although conditions that the foster the illness-bearing insect are better, the Will County Health Department's still finding infected mosquitoes in Joliet, Bolingbrook and elsewhere.
The Will County Health Department issued this press release Friday morning: Temperatures have moderated and some rain has fallen, but mosquito-borne West Nile Virus (WNV) is still prevalent across Illinois. Will County Environmental Health mosquito monitoring sites reported nine virus-positive samples Thursday, including two from gravid traps in Bolingbrook and Lockport. The two Bolingbrook monitoring sites operated by Will County have now produced nine virus-positive mosquito batches and the site in Lockport has accounted for four positives to date. Sites from Joliet, Frankfort, Mokena, New Lenox and Shorewood also tested virus-positive mosquitoes Thursday. The two health department sites in Joliet have totaled seven positives so far. …
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Health experts say hot, stagnant water provides the perfect breeding ground; using insect repellant with DEET and getting rid of sitting water are key preventative tips.
When it comes to mosquitoes that carry the West Nile virus, the hotter and more stagnant the water, the better the breeding grounds, Will County Health Department experts said Wednesday. So while we're not seeing a lot of "nuisance" mosquitoes because of the lack of rain, we may end up with more of the type that pose a serious health risk, especially to the old and those wirh compromised immune systems, said Elizabeth Bilotta, the county's environmental health director. "Conditions are ripe for them to breed," Bilotta said. "We don't know the volume, we have no way of monitoring that ... but it has to be hot and dry for these types of mosquitoes (to breed)." It's still relatively early as far as the mosquito season goes, but health …
Friday, May 18, 2012
Since 2005, there have been 55 local cases of the disease and two fatalities.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
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Friday, May 18, 2012
A warmer than normal early spring prompted state and Will County health officials to begin monitoring for West Nile virus (WNV) a month earlier than usual. In April, Will County began monitoring sightings of dead birds and testing the animals for the disease, which has infected 55 people and resulted in two deaths in Will County since 2005. This week, Will County Environmental Health staff began monitoring at a dozen locations throughout the area to monitor mosquitoes, which carry the disease. The county launched a weekly mosquito monitoring program in 2002, when Illinois led the county with 884 human West Nile cases and 64 deaths. WNV is a mosquito-borne disease capable of producing encephalitis and meningitis, potentially fatal …
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Residents are asked to contact the Will County Health Department when they see a dead bird so that it can be check for WNV infection.
- GOVERNMENT
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Sunday, April 15, 2012
Will County starts its West Nile Virus watch today, about two weeks earlier than normal because of the mild winter and warm early spring, officials said. Residents in Plainfield and other parts of the county are asked to contact the Will County Health Department when they see a dead bird so it can be tested for WNV. The Will County Health Department's information line to report dead birds is open 24 hours daily at 815-740-7631. Launched in May 2002, the info line also provides the latest information concerning WNV and local hot spots and offers access to a health department representative during regular weekly business hours, according to a department news release. Adult crows and blue jays have long been testing priorities, the release …
