Mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus have been found in Godfrey in Madison County — the first case this year in the state, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) reported recently.
“The weather is warming up and we’re starting to see West Nile virus,” IDPH Director Nirav Shah said, according to a press release. “Although we see West Nile virus in Illinois every year, it’s still important to take precautions to protect yourself by wearing insect repellent and getting rid of standing water around your home.”
The state is conducting tests for various mosquito batches and certain animals that could have been in contact with the insects, such as blue jays, robins and horses. The virus is transmitted by house mosquitoes that get it from an infected bird.
Eighty percent of infected people do not show symptoms, but the IDPH, which is also watching for the Zika virus, offers its "three R's" to help prevent infections: reduce (close windows tightly and replace broken screens), repel (use an effective insect repellent that has DEET in it) and report (contact officials at the local health department or city government if you see standing water for long periods or flooded yards).