West Nile Virus Found In Buffalo Grove
BUFFALO GROVE, Ill. (STMW) -- Cases of West Nile Virus have been confirmed on both the Lake and Cook county sides of Buffalo Grove, village officials said in a news release Friday.
The village noted that mosquito counts have been down due to cooler than normal temperatures, but the most recent batch of mosquitoes that were collected from traps on the north and south ends of Buffalo Grove tested positive for West Nile Virus, Pioneer Press is reporting.
"Throughout Buffalo Grove, mosquito control applications occur in the evenings when weather permits," Village Manager Dane Bragg said. "This helps suppress the adult mosquito population and minimize the risk of virus transmission."
The most recent application took place Aug. 15, officials said. The village contracts with Clarke Environmental Mosquito Management in Lake County. In Cook County, the mosquito population is controlled by the Northwest Mosquito Abatement District.
Yesterday, the news release stated, the Illinois Department of Public Health confirmed the first human case of West Nile in Illinois for 2013. The McHenry County Health Department reported a woman in her 50s became ill earlier this month. Last year, 290 people were reported ill and there were 12 deaths.
The threat of West Nile Virus is likely to increase with the arrival of warmer temperatures, Buffalo Grove officials said.
Residents are encouraged to reduce their risk of being infected by using insect repellent and wearing protective clothing to prevent mosquito bites.
For more information, visit the Illinois Department of Public Health's website at www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/wnv.htm. Its West Nile Virus Information Hotline is 1-866-369-9710.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
