Deerfield spray planned at Deerfield

DEERFIELD, IL – Mosquito sprays are scheduled for Thursday night in Deerfield and Highland Park. The Southlake Mosquito Reduction District has announced that it will conduct adult mosquito control operations on the ground due to the density and distribution of mosquitoes in recent samples. The district said the total mosquito population had increased following heavy rains.

Thursday's spray should begin after 9 pm in good weather in Deerfield and parts of Highland Park, weather permitting. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, as of Sept. 13, there had been four confirmed human cases of West Nile virus in Lake County in 2018, among 51 cases on the scale. of the state. One person died, a 65 year old resident of LaSalle County.

The virus is transmitted by the bites of infected mosquitoes, who contract the West Nile virus by feeding on birds with the disease. Symptoms, which can include fever, nausea, headaches and muscle aches, can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, but four out of five infected people will have no symptoms, according to the IDPH. In rare cases, serious illness, including meningitis or encephalitis, or even death, may occur. People over 50 or with weakened immune systems have an increased risk of serious illness.

Public health officials suggest taking these steps to reduce mosquitoes in your area, as well as your chances of being bitten by a mosquito infected with West Nile virus:

• Minimize the time spent outdoors when mosquitoes transmitting West Nile virus are the most active, especially between dusk and dawn.
• When outdoors, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt and apply an insect repellent.
• Eliminate all sources of stagnant water where mosquitoes can breed, such as old tires, buckets and other containers, or refresh the water in bird baths, flowerpots and pots. paddling pools every other day.

Further information is available by calling the Southlake District Mosquito Abatement hotline at 800-942-2555.

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