Douglas County gets IL’s first bird with West Nile virus in 2024

Simmy Wood
·2 min read

CHICAGO, Ill. (WCIA) — Central Illinois, get your mosquito repellants ready. The Illinois Department of Public Health reported that the first bird to test positive for West Nile virus in the state this year has been located in Douglas County.

Staff from the Douglas County Health Department found the bird in Villa Grove on April 2. Last year, 67 counties across Illinois reported positive West Nile virus cases in mosquito batches, birds, horses — or humans, of which there were 119 cases.

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The West Nile virus is passed on through the bite of a house mosquito that has fed on an infected bird. Symptoms usually don’t show in people, but can include fever, nausea, headache and muscle aches. The sickness may last from a few days to a few weeks. More severe illness can be experienced by individuals above 60 years old or with weakened immune systems, such as meningitis, encephalitis or even death.

Now, IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra is urging everyone to “reduce, repel, and report” infected mosquitos. He also said horses can be protected from West Nile virus through vaccination.

“The news of the first bird with West Nile virus so early in the season is a signal for Illinois residents to begin protecting themselves – and their horses – from vector-borne diseases,” Vohra said.

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The IDPH is sharing the following tips to help the public “Fight the Bite”:

  • Reduce

    • Put tight-fitting screens on windows and doors, and repair or replace screens that have tears or other openings.

    • Keep doors and windows shut.

    • Eliminate or refresh all standing water where mosquitoes can breed — including bird baths, ponds, flowerpots, wading pools, old tires, and any other containers.

  • Repel

    • Wear shoes and socks, long pants and a light-colored, long-sleeved shirt outdoors.

    • Consult a physician before using repellents on infants.

    • Apply an EPA-registered insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, IR 3535, para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone according to label instructions.

  • Report

    • If you you see water sitting stagnant for more than a week — such as roadside ditches or flooded yards — report these locations to your local health department. They or the city government may be able to add larvicide to the water, which will kill any mosquito larvae.

    • If you see a sick or dead crow, blue jay, robin or other perching bird, contact your local health department. They will determine if the bird should be picked up for lab testing.

IDPH said six West Nile virus deaths were reported in Illinois last year, and seven in 2022.

For more information, visit the IDPH’s West Nile virus website and the West Nile virus Dashboard.

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