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STERLING, Ill. (WHBF) — Mosquitoes collected on Monday near the northwest edge of Sterling have tested positive for the West Nile Virus (WNV) according to Rian Nailor, director of environmental health for the Whiteside County Health Department.

A positive mosquito pool is significant since Culex mosquitoes have a very short flight range of about .25 of a mile. “A positive test tells us that there are infected mosquitoes buzzing around Sterling putting residents at greater risk of exposure,” a news release says.

West Nile Virus is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird. Typically August and September is when WNV activity is at its highest and the threat of West Nile exposure can remain until the first frost, the release says.

“The recent warm temperatures have likely caused an increase of the virus in the bird and mosquito populations. Since it is now the peak season for mosquito borne disease it is important for the public to continue their vigilance and take some simple precautions to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and protect themselves from exposure,” the release says.

Precautions include practicing the three Rs: reduce, repel, and report.

Reduce Exposure

  • Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are most active, especially between dusk and dawn.
  • Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens and repair or replace any with tears or openings.
  • Try to keep doors and windows shut, especially at night.
  • Eliminate all sources of standing water where mosquitoes can breed, including flowerpots, wading pools, old tires, clogged rain gutters, old boats and any other receptacles and change the water in bird baths weekly.

Repel

  • Wear shoes and socks, long pants and long sleeved shirts when outdoors.
  • Apply insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR 3535, according to label instructions when outdoors. Consult a physician before using repellents on infants.

Report

  • Report dead birds to the Whiteside County Health Department. 
  • If your community has an organized mosquito control program, contact your municipal government about areas of stagnant water in roadside ditches, flooded yards, and similar locations that may produce mosquitoes.

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