City Clerk - Cook County West Nile Virus Information

Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH)
http://www.cookcountypublichealth.org
June 15, 2004

CCDPH Urges Prevention to Protect From West Nile Virus (WNV)

With the recent confirmation from the Illinois Department of Health (IDPH) of a crow and blue jay testing positive for the West Nile Virus, the Cook County Department of Public Health is reminding residents to use prevention efforts to limit infection of WNV.

"Birds that test positive for WNV indicate that the virus could be circulating in that area", said CCDPH COO Stephen A. Martin, PhD, M.P.H.  "We want to emphasize the importance of taking some simple precautions, such as checking around the outside of the home for stagnant water and when outside, wearing mosquito repellent with a 20-35% concentration of DEET".

These birds were the first to test positive for WNV in suburban Cook County this year.  They were recovered in Berwyn and Palatine and sent to the IDPH state lab for testing.  CCDPH received positive confirmation of WNV on June 14.

The health department will be collecting a limited number of birds through the summer for WNV testing.  Residents should call (708) 492-2650 24-hours a day to report a dead blue jay or crow on their property.  CCDPH Environmental Health staff will determine if the bird needs to be picked up.  Only blue jays and crows are being tested for WNV.

Residents may download a dead bird reporting form at http://www.cookcountypublichealth.org/programs/eni/wnv/west.shtml

CCDPH is also responding to complaints of un-maintained swimming pools or water that may be left standing in homeowner's yards.  "The most important step residents can take to prevent mosquitoes from breeding is to eliminate or empty any containers that may hold water from around the outside of their home", Dr. Martin said.  "Mosquitoes multiply quickly in water that is left stagnant".

The Culex Mosquito, or northern house mosquito, becomes infected after biting a bird that harbors the illness; human infection may occur following a bite by an infected mosquito.  Most people infected with WNV have no symptoms of illness and never become ill.  But some may become ill with fever, rash, headache and body aches 3-15 days following a bite. 

Follow these suggestions to avoid being bitten:

-Never allow mosquitoes to breed.  Check around the outside of your home for containers that could hold water such as garbage cans, buckets, swimming pools, bird baths or pet bowls.  Empty the water regularly or make sure the container is covered.
-Apply mosquito repellent containing 25-30% DEET primarily to clothing.  Concentrations of 10% or less are indicated for children.  Use sparingly on exposed skin.  Always follow the directions on the container.
-Limit time outdoors when mosquito activity is heaviest (dusk through dawn)
-Keep skin covered if outdoors between dusk and dawn.  Wear long-sleeved shirts, pants and socks.
-Be sure screens in homes are intact and tight fitting to prevent entry of insects.
-Keep gutters around home cleared of debris and in good repair.

WNV was first detected in birds in Cook County during September 2001.  Human illness in Illinois occurred in the summer of 2002, sickening 884 statewide and causing 64 deaths, 38 of them in Chicago and suburban Cook County.  In 2003 WNV sickened 12 in suburban Cook County, including one death.

For more WNV prevention, call the CCDPH Health Alert Hotline at (708) 492-2185 or the IDPH toll-free WNV hotline at (866) 369-9710.  You can also access additional information online at the following websites:

http://www.cookcountypublichealth.org
www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/wnv.htm

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