Thursday - Aug 12, 2010
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Urges Residents to Continue to Take Precautions
Champaign, IL - A mosquito sample collected last week in the City of Champaign has tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV). Additionally, a dead crow collected the last week of July in the City of Champaign also tested positive for West Nile virus (2nd positive bird in Champaign County). "Hot summer temperatures help to create stagnant water with organic matter that is prime breeding sites for Culex mosquitoes, the primary vector of WNV. As the number of WNV infected Culex mosquitoes increase, the risk of WNV disease-to-humans increases," said Jim Roberts, Director of Environmental Health at the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD).
Late summer is the time of the year that you are most likely to come in contact with a WNV infected mosquito. CUPHD urges residents to take personal actions to avoid mosquito bites when outdoors:
Read the full press relase. (PDF)