2008 Year in Review

Two Blue Jays Test Positive for West Nile Virus

A family out for a weekend walk stumbled upon two blue jays lying dead on the ground. The birds, found in the west part of Prophetstown, have both tested positive for West Nile virus, Whiteside County Health Department officials said. “It is somewhat unusual having two dead birds found next to each other both test positive for West Nile virus,” said Gene Johnston, Environmental director of the Health Department.

The birds were found this past weekend and were sent Monday to an Illinois Department of Public Health lab for testing. The results were released late this week.

A Sterling area man was diagnosed positive with West Nile virus a couple weeks ago. Since then more mosquito traps were placed in areas where West Nile virus was suspected to increase surveillance, Johnston said.

Yet to date no mosquitoes have tested positive for West Nile virus, Johnston said. Late August and September is when West Nile virus typically shows up in captured mosquitoes in Whiteside County, he said.

“This makes it appear that West Nile virus could be anywhere in Whiteside County,” he said.

Recent hot weather and storm events have provided a natural habitat for Culex mosquitoes, the mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus, to multiply. The mosquitoes reproduce in artificial containers of stagnant water such as flower pots or trays, bird baths, barrels, clogged roof gutters, boats and abandoned swimming pools, Johnston said. Hot weather is also conducive to large numbers of these mosquitoes and rapid multiplication of the virus.

Property owners should empty outside containers filled with water to prevent mosquito reproduction, Johnston said.

“Regardless of the effort to eliminate or treat stagnant water, mosquitoes will continue to reproduce. That is why personal protection is so important,” Johnston said.

People who go outside between dusk and dawn should wear shoes, socks, long pants and a long- sleeve shirt and apply insect repellents that includes DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus (according to manufacturer’s instruction) to exposed skin.

For more information about West Nile virus, visit the Whiteside County Health Department’s website.

by  Editor, theCity1.com
July 31, 2008