Rockford Sun

In a Facebook post dated June 21, Rep. Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore) is warning constituents about the threat of mosquitoes and the associated risks of West Nile Virus in Illinois. 

"The Illinois Department of Public Health is reminding the public that along with the start of summer, mosquito season is getting underway in Illinois and that positive batches of West Nile virus have been reported in four counties around the state," Keicher posted. 

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) issued a press release on June 15, reporting that mosquito season is starting and that West Nile Virus has been reported in four counties. IDPH reported that mosquitos first tested positive for West Nile Virus on May 30 in Evanston, and that there have been no human cases of West Nile Virus this year. IDPH says that “A total of ten batches of mosquitos that tested positive for West Nile virus have been reported this year in Cook, LaSalle, Morgan and St. Clair counties.”

Coinciding with the ongoing mosquito season, National Mosquito Control Awareness Week took place from June 18 to 24, drawing attention to the importance of mosquito control and prevention. To facilitate the dissemination of information during this awareness week, the American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) has made it effortless for organizations to share valuable resources. The AMCA offers a range of assets for organizations to utilize and distribute, aiming to increase public awareness. Interested individuals can access a fact sheet and a press release on the official website of the AMCA. 

The fact sheet provided by the AMCA equips individuals with practical tips to protect themselves and their properties from mosquitoes. These include draining containers and standing water, wearing loose and light-colored clothing, and defending against mosquitoes by utilizing EPA-registered mosquito repellents.

The state will update West Nile Virus figures as they are reported here. According to a link on this page, there have been 16 batches of mosquitoes that have tested positive for West Nile Virus, in four counties with positive mosquitoes. The main surveillance page shares data going back to 2001 for the state, and between 1999-2004 for the U.S. as a whole.

“Diseases such as West Nile virus pose a serious health threat, especially to our seniors or individuals who have weakened immune systems,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “We have already identified ten mosquito batches that are positive for West Nile virus, and this underscores why it is important for Illinois residents to protect themselves this summer. Please ‘fight the bite’ by wearing insect repellent while outdoors and eliminating standing water around your homes where mosquitos can easily breed.”