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| 2009 McLean County Numbers at a Glance |
| Tested birds |
3 |
| Positive birds |
0 |
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Tested mosquito pools
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0 |
| Positive mosquito pools |
0 |
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|
| Positive human cases |
0 |
| Human deaths |
0 |
| Positive horses and other animals |
0 |
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Vector and Arbo Surveillance
The McLean County Health Department is now collecting dead birds excluding predators like owls, hawks, falcons and eagles. McLean County residents who find a dead bird on their property should do the following:
- Contact the Environmental Health Division at 309-888-5482 to find out if the department is still accepting birds for testing. The department will only collect and test a limited number of birds. Birds eligible for testing must be dead for no longer than 24 hours and must have no obvious signs of trauma. Those submitting specimens will receive further instructions at the time of the call.
- To dispose of a dead bird that the Health Department cannot accept, adults should use gloves or tongs to place the dead bird inside two plastic bags. Then, place the bird in the trash or bury it away from water sources. After handling a dead bird, hand washing using soap and warm water is essential.
The McLean County Health Department will being testing mosquito samples in mid-May.
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West Nile Virus: The ABCs of WNV
West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne disease that can cause encephalitis or inflammation of the brain. Infected culex mosquitoes pass the virus onto birds, animals and people. West Nile virus was first detected in the United States in New York in the fall of 1999 and in Illinois in 2001. Prior to that it had only been found in Africa, Eastern Europe and West Asia. West Nile virus cases occur primarily in midsummer or early fall, although mosquitoes that can carry the disease may be present from mid-April through October. During 2005, McLean County experienced four cases of West Nile Virus with two deaths.
West Nile virus encephalitis is transmitted from infected mosquitoes to people, not from person to person or from bird to human. Mosquitoes get the virus by feeding on infected, migratory birds. Mild cases of West Nile virus infection may cause a slight fever or headache. More severe infections are marked by a rapid onset of a high fever with head and body aches, disorientation, tremors, convulsions and, in the most severe cases, paralysis or death. Usually symptoms occur from three to 14 days after the bite of an infected mosquito.
Persons at the highest risk for serious illness are very young children, adults 50 years of age or older and people with compromised immune systems. Anyone concerned about their risk or experiencing two or more of the symptoms should contact a physician immediately and inform the doctor of any recent mosquito bites.
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Fight the Bite: Take these Steps to Prevent West Nile virus
High Risk Areas include these factors:
Anywhere outside from dusk to dawn, when mosquitoes are most active
Standing pools of water that harbor mosquito breeding such as bird baths, ponds, lakes, flowerpots, wading pools and old tires
Windows or doors with loose fitting screens or with holes or tears in screens
What you can do to FIGHT THE BITE
Reduce risk by taking these precautions:
For more information, contact the McLean County Health Department at 309-888-5450 or visit the Illinois Department of Public Health website at http://www.idph.state.il.us/
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