They're not just annoying. Mosquitos carry the sometimes deadly West Nile Virus. Illinois is reporting batches in four counties: St. Clair, Cook, Morgan and LaSalle.
No human cases have been reported so far, but last year, 34 cases were reported in Illinois and eight people died. Public Health spokesman Mike Claffey says some of the most effective repellants contain DEET, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus or Picaridin.
"And also wear long sleeve clothing and pants, if you can manage to do that (especially at dawn or dusk)," said Claffey. "If you have a bird fountain, you want to replace that water at least once a week because they will not allow the mosquitos to breed."
"Diseases such as West Nile virus pose a serious health threat, especially to our seniors or individuals who have weakened immune systems," Public Health director Dr. Sameer Vohra said in a statement. "We have already identified 10 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."
People should also keep doors and windows shut and make sure they have tight-fitting screens. Officials also ask that any sick or dead crows, blue jays, robins or other perching birds be reported in case they need to be tested.
Another way Illinoisans can help with mosquito mitigation is to report any sick or dead crows, blue jays, robins or other perching birds they see to their local health department, so officials can determine if the birds need to be collected and tested for the virus.
