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West Nile virus found in Marseilles mosquitoes; La Salle County urges precautions · Illinois Valley - Shaw Local

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  Speaker 1: West Nile virus found in Marseille mosquitoes. LaSalle County urges precautions.
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  Speaker 1: Written by Matthias Werner. This article is being read by
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  Speaker 1: an automated voice brought to you by Everlit. Residents are
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  Speaker 1: encouraged to be extra cautious with mosquitoes in the area
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  Speaker 1: following an announcement from the LaSalle County Health Department. The
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  Speaker 1: Health Department received confirmation that mosquitoes from Marseille tested positive
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  Speaker 1: for West Nile virus. according to a news release from
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  Speaker 1: the department. The mosquitoes were collected on August 20th, according
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  Speaker 1: to the release, and environmental health staff conducted the confirmatory
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  Speaker 1: test on the mosquitoes at the health department. Late summer
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  Speaker 1: and early fall are common times of the year to
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  Speaker 1: see West Nile virus activity increase, according to the release.
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  Speaker 1: In 2026, West Nile virus activity in mosquitoes has been
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  Speaker 1: documented in Peru on Wednesday, August 12th, Ottawa and Utica
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  Speaker 1: on Tuesday, August 11th, as well as on Wednesday, July
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  Speaker 1: 29th in Ottawa. West Nile virus is transmitted through the
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  Speaker 1: bite of a Culex mosquito, commonly called a house mosquito,
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  Speaker 1: that picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird,
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  Speaker 1: according to the release. Common symptoms of the virus include fever, nausea,
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  Speaker 1: headache and muscle aches, and may last from a few
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  Speaker 1: days to a few weeks, according to the release. Most
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  Speaker 1: people infected with West Nile virus will not show any symptoms.
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  Speaker 1: In rare cases, West Nile virus can lead to severe illness,
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  Speaker 1: including paralysis, meningitis, encephalitis, brain and nerve infections, or even death,
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  Speaker 1: according to the release. People older than 60 and those
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  Speaker 1: with weakened immune systems are at the highest risk for
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  Speaker 1: severe illness. The Illinois Department of Public Health recommends the
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  Speaker 1: public to fight the bite by practicing the three R's, reduce, repel,
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  Speaker 1: and report. Reduce risk of contracting the virus by making
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  Speaker 1: sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens, repair or replace
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  Speaker 1: screens that have tears or other openings, and try to
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  Speaker 1: keep doors and windows shut, according to the release. Each week,
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  Speaker 1: eliminate or refresh all sources of standing water where mosquitoes
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  Speaker 1: can breed, including water in bird baths, ponds, flower pots,
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  Speaker 1: wading pools, old tires, and any other containers. Repel mosquitoes
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  Speaker 1: that may be carrying the virus by wearing shoes and socks,
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  Speaker 1: long pants, and a light-colored, long-sleeved shirt when outdoors, according
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  Speaker 1: to the release. Apply an Environmental Protection Agency registered insect
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  Speaker 1: repellent that contains DEET-repelling chemceol, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus,
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  Speaker 1: IR3535 synthetic repellent, paramethanediol, or 2-undecanone. Consult a physician before
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  Speaker 1: using on infants. Report locations where water is sitting stagnant
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  Speaker 1: for more than a week, such as roadside ditches, flooded yards,
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  Speaker 1: and similar locations that may produce mosquitoes, according to the release.
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  Speaker 1: Local health departments or city governments may be able to
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  Speaker 1: add larvicide to the water to remove mosquito larvae. A
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  Speaker 1: complete listing of West Nile virus statistics for LaSalle County
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  Speaker 1: is available on the health department's website under the Environmental
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  Speaker 1: Health Vector Control tab. A statewide listing of West Nile
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  Speaker 1: virus statistics is available at the Illinois Department of Public
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  Speaker 1: Health's website.