Risk Of West Nile In Suburbs Highest Since 2012 Outbreak

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — The risk of catching West Nile in the suburbs is at its highest level since a 2012 outbreak, officials have warned. A recent uptick in the prevalence of West Nile Virus has been recorded among mosquitoes sampled on the North Shore has leading officials to urge the public to take precautions against human infection. Anti-mosquito spraying was set to take place after 10 p.m. Friday in parts of Highland Park and Deerfield.

West Nile virus has been detected across the north suburbs in 2018 at levels well above average, with mosquitoes testing positive in Lake County's Southlake Mosquito Abatement District in southeast Lake County as well as all 10 municipalities in the northern Cook County North Shore Mosquito Abatement District.

“The amount of virus we are detecting in mosquitoes is well above the historical average for this time of year and is also occurring earlier in the season than the average," said NSMAD Executive Director Mark Clifton.

In the 2012 season, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported 12 deaths among 290 human cases of West Nile Virus statewide.

That was second only to the 2002 outbreak, which killed 67 residents among 884 people with confirmed infections. There have been four human cases statewide so far in 2018, according to IDPH.

"These factors indicate that the risk for human West Nile virus infections is elevated and will likely remain elevated through the remainder of August," Clinton said in a release. "Everyone really needs to adopt personal protection behaviors.”

The disease is spread to humans by bites from mosquitoes that pick up the virus from an infected bird. Most people show no symptoms, which tend to begin from a few days to two weeks after a bite.

Severe infections can lead to fevers, body aches, and sometimes deadly complications. Those older than 50 or with weakened immune systems are most at risk of serious illness, according to health officials.

The Southlake Mosquito Abatement District announced mosquito control operations were planned for Friday night after four additional collections of mosquitoes tested positive. Two were recovered in northwest Highland Park, one was found in Eastern Deerfield and another tested positive after being collected in the Prairie Wolf Slough forest preserve.

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