Lake Zurich Public Works Director David Heyden said Clarke Mosquito Control is expecting to spray adult mosquitoes tonight between dawn and dusk. Heyden said the village will spray for mosquitoes along with North Barrington and Cuba Township.

"We'll get more bang for the buck with a coordinated effort," Heyden said. 

The village has not sprayed for adult mosquitoes in numerous years, according to Heyden. This spraying is an effort to prevent West Nile Virus (WNV) in the village. Five Lake County residents, including a resident of Lake Zurich, recently contracted WNV.

Heyden explained that for the last eight to nine years, the village has relied only on larvicide treatment. Larvicide pellets are dropped into the water, sometimes from the air. The larvicide prevents the mosquitoes from breeding, while the adulticide treatment actually kills the mosquitoes. 

Tomorrow's warm, dry weather should provide perfect conditions for mosquito spraying, Heyden said. 

Heyden said the mosquito chemical has no human health risk, but residents who are concerned should close their windows.

Following the suggested guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Lake Zurich is spraying the adult mosquitoes to minimize the public risk of mosquito-borne disease.

All insecticides used have been approved specifically for this purpose and are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency, according to a village press release.  The EPA has stated that when used according to label directions, these products pose no undue risks to humans or the environment.

This application, in addition to the Village’s existing mosquito control program, will better control the mosquito population, decreasing the potential for spreading West Nile virus.

West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird. Common West Nile virus 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 or encephalitis, or even death, can occur. People older than 50 are at higher risk for severe illness from West Nile virus.

The best way to prevent West Nile disease or any other mosquito-borne illness is to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and to take personal precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Precautions include practicing the three "R's" – reduce, repel and report.

• REDUCE exposure - avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are most active, especially between dusk and dawn.
• 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, especially at night.
• Eliminate all sources of standing water where mosquitoes can breed, including water in bird baths, ponds, flowerpots, wading pools, old tires and any other receptacles.
• REPEL - when outdoors, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a 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.
• REPORT - Report dead birds to the Lake County Health Department at (847) 377-8300 and areas of stagnant water in roadside ditches, flooded yards and similar locations that may produce mosquitoes to the Mosquito Hotline at (800) 942-2555.

Additional information about West Nile virus can be found on the IDPH website.

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