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Mosquitoes in La Salle test positive for West Nile virus · Illinois Valley - Shaw Local

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  Mosquitoes in La Salle test positive for West Nile virus.
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  Written by Tom Collins. This article is being read by an automated
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  voice, brought to you by Everlett. The LaSalle County Health Department confirmed
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  that mosquitoes from LaSalle tested positive for West Nile virus. Environmental health
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  staff collected the mosquitoes on September 4th and conducted the confirmatory West
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  at the health department. According to Jennifer Arroyo, Director of Environmental Health,
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  even as we move into the fall months with fluctuating temperatures, it
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  is important to protect yourself against mosquito bites and possible West
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  Nile virus infection, especially during evening activities like practices and sporting event.
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  The best way to protect yourself against illness is to wear insect
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  repellent and to get rid of any stagnant water around your home
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  to reduce the number of mosquitoes. To date, West Nile virus activity
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  in mosquitoes has been documented in Ottawa, Utica, Peru, and Marseille since
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  July 29. West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of a
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  Culex mosquito, commonly called a house mosquito, that has picked up the
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  virus by feeding on an infected bird. Common symptoms include fever, nausea,
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  headache, and muscle aches. Symptoms may last from a few days to
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  a few weeks. Most people infected with West Nile virus will not
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  show any symptoms. However, in rare cases it can lead to severe
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  illness including paralysis, meningitis, or encephalitis. That is brain and nervic infections
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  or even death. People older than 60 and those with weakened immune
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  systems are at the highest risk for severe illness.