(Positive Cases Collected in Alexander, Hardin, and Johnson Counties)
Southern 7 Health Department (S7HD) has confirmed three positive tests for West Nile Virus (WNV) in mosquitoes for
the southern seven county region of Illinois. These are the first cases of WNV in mosquitoes documented by the health
department in 2024. No human cases of WNV have been reported so far this year in the region.
On July 10, S7HD Environmental Health Services staff collected the mosquitoes from traps set in Alexander, Hardin, and
Johnson Counties. On July 11, tests confirmed the positive cases. Traps were placed in each of the lower seven counties
in May and are tested weekly.
West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of a Culex pipiens mosquito, commonly called a house mosquito that has
picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird. Common symptoms include fever, nausea, headache and muscle
aches. Symptoms may last from a few days to a few weeks. However, four out of five people infected with West Nile
virus will not show any symptoms. In rare cases, severe illness including meningitis, encephalitis, or even death, can
occur. People older than 60 and individuals with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for severe illness from
West Nile virus.
Residents are encouraged to take precautions to Fight the Bite include practicing the three “R’s” – Reduce, Repel, and
Report.
• REDUCE – make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have tears or other
openings. Try to keep doors and windows shut.
Eliminate, or refresh each week, all sources of standing water where mosquitoes can breed, including water in bird
baths, ponds, flowerpots, wading pools, old tires, and any other containers.
• REPEL – when outdoors, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a light-colored, long-sleeved shirt, and apply insect
repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR 3535 according to label instructions. Consult a
physician before using repellents on infants.
repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR 3535 according to label instructions. Consult a
physician before using repellents on infants.
• REPORT – report locations where you see water sitting stagnant for more than a week such as roadside ditches,
flooded yards, and similar locations that may produce mosquitoes. The local health department or city government may
be able to add larvicide to the water, which will kill any mosquito eggs.
Trapping mosquitoes will continue until early fall. For more information, call Miranda Adams, S7HD Environmental
Health Services Director at 618-634-2297 x. 973114, visit www.southern7.org, or download the Southern 7 app.
flooded yards, and similar locations that may produce mosquitoes. The local health department or city government may
be able to add larvicide to the water, which will kill any mosquito eggs.
Trapping mosquitoes will continue until early fall. For more information, call Miranda Adams, S7HD Environmental
Health Services Director at 618-634-2297 x. 973114, visit www.southern7.org, or download the Southern 7 app.
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