Politics & Government

Second Mosquito Batch Tests Positive For West Nile Virus

Case reported in Fox River Grove.

A second batch of mosquitoes has tested positive for West Nile virus, this time in Fox River Grove, McHenry County Health Department officials said.

Last week, a mosquito batch tested positive in Woodstock.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has also seen an increase in reported human cases from 2 to 4, according to MCHD.

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Locally, MCDH has tested 119 mosquito pools as of this week, however, all other pools tested negative for WNV.

Last year, McHenry County reported a single human case of WNV.

Find out what's happening in Huntleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

MCDH will continue to collect and test mosquito pools through the remainder of the season, typically mid-October.  The Department of Health will accept a limited number of birds for testing.  It is important to remember that the risk of WNV remains until the first hard frost.

Illness from West Nile virus is usually mild and includes fever, headache and body aches but serious illnesses, such as encephalitis and meningitis and death, are possible.  Persons 50 and older have the highest risk of severe disease. 

For more information on WNV, visit www.mcdh.info (Environmental Health) or call 815-334-4585.

 

 


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