Lake Zurich to Spray for Mosquitoes Due to WNV

Director David Heyden told Lake Zurich board members that Clarke Mosquito Control, which the village contracts for mosquito abatement, has recommended spraying for mosquitoes this year due to the threat of West Nile Virus. 

The village has not sprayed for mosquitoes for several years, Heyden said. However, this year's drought has resulted in an increase of the Culex mosquitoes, the mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus.

The village contracts with Clarke for surveillance and monitoring of mosquitoes and has been controlling mosquitoes with larvicide and catch basin treatments.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  reported cases of West Nile Virus are at an all time high.  There have been 48 reported human cases of West Nile Virus in Illinois as of Sept. 4, including one person in Buffalo Grove.

Village trustees and Mayor Suzanne Branding agreed that it was necessary to spray for mosquitoes, at Tuesday night's village board meeting. The cost for two sprayings, by Clarke, will be $4,553.

Heyden also urged residents to be aware of the symptoms and to take precautions.

The CDC lists the following as symptoms of West Nile Virus:

• Serious Symptoms in a Few People. About one in 150 people infected with WNV will develop severe illness. The severe symptoms can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. These symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects may be permanent.

• Milder Symptoms in Some People. Up to 20 percent of the people who become infected have symptoms such as fever, headache, and body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back. Symptoms can last for as short as a few days, though even healthy people have become sick for several weeks.

• No Symptoms in Most People. Approximately 80 percent of people (about 4 out of 5) who are infected with WNV will not show any symptoms at all.

And here are the organization’s recommendations on how to avoid getting sick in the first place:

• When you are outdoors, use insect repellent containing an EPA-registered active ingredient. Follow the directions on the package.
• Many mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn. Be sure to use insect repellent and wear long sleeves and pants at these times or consider staying indoors during these hours.
• Make sure you have good screens on your windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out.
• Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by emptying standing water from flower pots, buckets and barrels. Change the water in pet dishes and replace the water in bird baths weekly. Drill holes in tire swings so water drains out. Keep children's wading pools empty and on their sides when they aren't being used.

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