Naperville Urges Mosquito Precautions After West Nile Virus Found

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — Naperville urges residents to prevent mosquito bites and take precautions such as removing standing water after two traps recently tested positive for West Nile virus on Oleson Drive and Jackson Avenue. City crews have sprayed the immediate areas, checked for breeding sites and retreated area catch basins. As a further precaution, the city will spray the areas around the Last Fling festival during the morning of Friday, Aug. 29, to help reduce the mosquito population near the event.

To help prevent mosquitoes from hatching, city crews remove standing water and treat ponds, marshes, and catch basins with safe chemicals during mosquito season from April through October. Crews also monitor traps weekly for West Nile virus and the effectiveness of the treatment. When necessary, the city will use spraying to help control the population of adult mosquitoes. The city uses the safest chemicals at low volumes and sprays only as needed.

West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne virus transmitted by mosquitoes that feed on infected birds. Most people who are infected with the West Nile virus have no symptoms or experience very mild symptoms three to 14 days after the bite from an infected mosquito. Mild symptoms include a fever, headache and body aches, occasionally with a skin rash on the trunk of the body and swollen lymph glands. Less than 1% of those infected develop severe symptoms, with people over 50 at higher risk.

Precautions to “Fight the Bite”

To help prevent mosquito-borne illnesses, reduce mosquitoes around your home and take these precautions:

• Wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothing, including long pants, long sleeves, shoes with socks from dusk to dawn.
• Use mosquito repellent containing 25% to 35% DEET when outdoors, applied sparingly to skin or clothing, as indicated on the repellent label. Consult a physician before using repellents on young children.
• Check for and repair any tears in residential screens, including porches and patios.
• Eliminate stagnant water in birdbaths, ponds, flowerpots, wading pools, tires and any other receptacles in which mosquitoes might breed.
• Be sure to keep roof gutters clear of debris and keep grass cut short and shrubbery well-trimmed around your home to eliminate mosquito hiding places.

For more information, visit naperville.il.us/mosquitocontrol.

About Naperville: Located 28 miles west of Chicago, Naperville, Ill., is home to approximately 150,000 people. This vibrant, thriving city consistently ranks as a top community in the nation in which to live, raise children and retire. The city is home to acclaimed public and parochial schools, the best public library system in the country, an array of healthcare options and an exceptionally low crime rate. Naperville has ready access to a variety of public transportation, housing and employment options. The city’s diversified employer base features high technology firms, retailers and factories, as well as small and home-based businesses. Residents also enjoy world-class parks, diverse worship options, the opportunity to serve on several City boards and commissions, a thriving downtown shopping and dining area, a renowned outdoor history museum known as Naper Settlement and an active civic community. For more information, please visit our website at www.naperville.il.us.