Kane County Reporter

As the calendar officially changes to the summer season, Illinois state Rep. Jeff Keicher (R- Sycamore) is warning his constituents about the dangers of mosquitos and West Nile virus.

Keicher shared information about it in a Facebook post this week.

"The Illinois Department of Public Health is reminding the public that along with the start of summer, mosquito season is getting underway in Illinois and that positive batches of West Nile virus have been reported in four counties around the state," he said in the post.

In a June 15 news release, the Illinois Department of Health (IDPH) reported that mosquito season was starting in the Prairie State and West Nile virus had been detected in four counties. It noted that mosquitos first tested positive for the virus on May 30 in Evanston, and that "a total of ten batches of mosquitos that tested positive for West Nile virus have been reported this year in Cook, LaSalle, Morgan, and St. Clair counties." So far in 2023, there have been no human cases of West Nile virus in Illinois.

The American Mosquito Control Association is trying to make it easy to share information by providing a variety of materials for organizations to use and share about National Mosquito Control Awareness Week, which runs June 18-24. The association offers a fact sheet with tips to protect yourself and your property from mosquitos. The suggestions include draining containers and standing water; dressing in loose, light-colored clothing; and defending yourself by using mosquito repellent that is registered by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The State will provide updates on West Niles virus figures as they are reported on IDPH's website. As of Monday, June 19, there have been 24 batches of mosquitoes that have tested positive for West Nile virus in six counties, according to the 2023 West Nile Virus Surveillance Data page. The surveillance page details data on the virus going back to 2001 in Illinois and from 1999-2004 for the entire country.

"Diseases such as West Nile virus pose a serious health threat, especially to our seniors or individuals who have weakened immune systems," Dr. Sameer Vohra, IDPH director, said in the news release. "We have already identified ten 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."