Community Corner

CDC Calls West Nile Outbreak 'Largest Ever;' No Human Cases in Kendall County

DuPage County reported the state's first West Nile-related death on Aug. 18; Kendall County health officials urge residents to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control are reporting the largest outbreak of West Nile virus since the disease appeared in this country in 1999 — but that doesn’t mean Kendall County residents should worry, according to local health officials.

To date, there have been no human cases of West Nile in Kendall County this year, said Aaron Rybski, Director of Environmental Health at the Kendall County Health Department. Last year, there were 34 cases of the illness statewide.

“That doesn’t mean we aren’t expecting to see a case or two as the season progresses," said Rybski. The virus evolves over time and human cases tend to appear later in the season.

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With five human cases so far this summer, DuPage County reported the state’s after Lombard Village President Bill Mueller died of complications from the disease. Mueller, who had been battling cancer for more than four years, was hospitalized on Aug. 5 and died two weeks later.

Nationwide, the CDC is reporting 1,118 cases and 42 deaths related to West Nile virus.

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"We're in the midst of one of the largest West Nile outbreaks ever seen in the United States," said Dr. Lyle Petersen, a CDC official told The Huffington Post.

Should Kendall County residents be worried?

So far Rybski said there no birds have tested positive in Kendall County for the disease.

The Kendall County Health Department and the Illinois Department of Public Health are both testing mosquito pools in county and positive mosquitoes have been found.

“The Illinois Department of Public Health has found 6 pools that tested positive in about the last week,” said Rybski. “We have not found any yet in our tests.”

The best defense against West Nile is being aware of stagnant water and wearing protective clothing, said Rybski.

“Do little things around your house to make sure there’s no standing water. Clean out the gutters, the kiddie pool, the bird bath. Even a Dixie cup with water that’s been outside for a few days is a breeding ground for larva.”

The standing water areas that are most affected are normally man-made, said Rybski. Lakes in the area tend to have movement and pest control, from frogs or fish, so the mosquitoes are less likely to breed there.

The best way though to prevent West Nile is to avoid mosquito bites. Rybski said the mosquitoes that carry the West Nile virus are “light biters,” meaning oftentimes people don’t even realize they’ve been bitten. They are also out in the dusk to dawn hours, so Rybski cautions that people avoid staying outside for prolonged periods during that time frame.

 Some tips for avoiding bites are:

  • Use insect repellents when you go outdoors. Rybski recommends using a repellent with a DEET count of about 10 percent to 25 percent. Remember that DEET is a chemical and it's important to read the label.
  • Wear long sleeves and pants during dawn and dusk. Light colored clothing is best, as you are more likely to see a mosquito on you.
  • Install or repair screens on windows and doors. Use air conditioning, if you have it. Don’t sleep with the windows open.
  • Empty standing water from items outside your home such as flowerpots, buckets and kiddie pools and replenish with fresh water every few days.

For more information on West Nile and how to prevent it, visit the CDC's West Nile fact sheet or the Kendall County Health Department website.


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