The McLean County Health Department is reporting the first mosquito pool in the county to test positive for West Nile virus this year.
The test was confirmed July 7 in Bloomington in the 61705 ZIP code.
No human cases of the virus have been reported in McLean County this year.
The culex mosquito, also known as the common house mosquito, is the primary carrier of West Nile. The virus spreads by mosquitos biting people after feeding on an infected bird.
The disease causes encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, and is more common during the summer and fall.
2024 saw 69 cases of West Nile across Illinois, with 13 deaths. That was the state's highest total since 2018, when 17 deaths were recorded.
Four out of five cases are mild, according to the health department, with symptoms such as headaches or low-grade fevers. Severe cases can lead to higher fevers, disorientation, and even paralysis or death.
Young children, adults over 50, and people with compromised immune systems are at the highest risk of serious illness.
The health department began placing informational doorhangers about the disease near where the sample was collected July 8. The MCHD recommends following the “three R’s” to stay safe from the virus:
- Repel mosquitos with insect repellent and longer clothing.
- Reduce the mosquito population by eliminating standing pools of water in your yard.
- Report any pools of standing water in public spaces that have been sitting stagnant for more than a week.
