Mosquitoes in Naperville Test Positive for West Nile Virus

Mosquitoes found in a trap in Naperville tested positive for West Nile virus, according to the Naperville Park District.

The traps, located at Seager Park, 1163 Plank Rd. and Springhill Park, 703 Springhill Cr., each returned one instance of West Nile virus, the park district said in a release.

"Positive, reportable results are defined as two instances in one location. However, the Naperville Park District feels that it is necessary to inform people of these findings so that they can take the necessary precautions," according to the park district. 

Traps will be retested beginning July 29 after city crews spray the affected areas and retreat the surrounding catch basins, according to the park district.

Samples collected from a Health Department mosquito monitoring site in Bolingbrook earlier this month represented Will County's first confirmed West Nile Virus activity for 2013, according to a news release by Will County media services manager Vic Reato.

Reato said samples were collected in Bolingbrook on July 8 and tested positive for West Nile Virus on July 9. He said Will County is one of at least 18 counties to report West Nile Virus activity so far this year.

No human West Nile Virus cases have been reported in Illinois to date, Reato said, but activity in bird and mosquito populations typically indicates what is in store for humans. He said Illinois reported 290 human cases and 12 fatalities in 2012.

Reato said there were 11 cases of human infection from Will County last year, including cases in Plainfield and Romeoville, but no fatalities were reported.

The Centers for Disease Control provides the following tips to prevent mosquito bites, which also found here: http://www.cdc.gov/westnile/index.html

• Apply insect repellent to exposed skin. Generally, the more active ingredient a repellent contains the longer it can protect you from mosquito bites. A higher percentage of active ingredient in a repellent does not mean that your protection is better—just that it will last longer. Click here for more on insect repellent active ingredients. Choose a repellent that provides protection for the amount of time that you will be outdoors.
• Spray clothing with repellents containing permethrin or another EPA-registered repellent since mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing. Do not apply repellents containing permethrin directly to exposed skin. Do not apply repellent to skin under your clothing.
• When weather permits, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants whenever you are outdoors.
• Place mosquito netting over infant carriers when you are outdoors with infants.
• Consider staying indoors at dawn, dusk, and in the early evening, which are peak mosquito biting times. 

More information about the City’s mosquito control program is available at http://www.naperville.il.us/mosquitocontrol.aspx.