PN UPDATE Aug 21 / The Naperville Park District has released information that the recent initial tests of mosquito traps at Seager Park, Sportsman’s Park and Burlington Park have returned one instance of West Nile Virus at each location as reported by the City of Naperville. Positive, reportable results are defined as two instances in one location. City crews will spray the affected areas August 22-23 and will retest next week. More information about the City’s mosquito control program is available at www.naperville.il.us/mosquitocontrol.aspx.
Pay attention! Burlington Park is located at 1003 Douglas Ave., Seager Park is located at 1163 Plank Road and Sportsman’s Park is located at 731 S. West St. A list of precautions to take is featured below. Thanks for being aware.
PN UPDATE Aug. 14 / Seager and Springhill Parks will be treated and retested: Recent initial tests of mosquito traps at Seager Park (1163 Plank Road) and Springhill Park (703 Springhill Circle) have returned one instance of West Nile Virus at each location as reported by the City of Naperville. Positive, reportable results are defined as two instances in one location. However, the Naperville Park District feels that it is necessary to inform people of these findings so that they can take the necessary precautions.
City crews will spray the affected areas on August 15 and 16 and the surrounding catch basins will be retreated. Traps will be retested the week of August 19. Earlier in the summer both parks were treated after initial positive tests in the City traps.
Mosquito traps in area parks initially test positive for West Nile Virus
The City of Naperville reminds residents to protect themselves and their families from mosquito bites and help reduce the number of potential mosquito breeding sites around their home. Residents are encouraged to remove areas of standing water from their property, as it can act as a breeding ground for this insect.
As of today, a mosquito trap in Seager Park tested positive for West Nile Virus two weeks in a row. City crews will be treating those areas on August 1 and 2 as a precaution using the safest materials available in very low volumes. Department of Public Works crews will be re-checking the areas for breeding sites and re-treating catch basins. All other City mosquito traps tested negative for the virus.
West Nile Virus is a mosquito-borne virus that is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird. Most people who are infected with the West Nile Virus have no symptoms or experience very mild symptoms three to 14 days after the bite of an infected mosquito. Mild symptoms include a fever, headache and body aches, occasionally with a skin rash on the trunk of the body and swollen lymph glands.
Less than 1 percent of infected people with West Nile Virus will develop severe symptoms. These symptoms include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness and paralysis. Persons older than 50 years of age and immunocompromised persons (e.g. transplant patients) have the highest risk of severe disease.
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:
- Whenever outdoors between dusk and dawn, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Loose fitting, light colored clothing is best. Consider staying indoors at dusk and dawn, which is peak mosquito biting time.
- Apply insect repellant to exposed skin when outdoors. The most effective repellents contain DEET. Use caution when applying repellant to children. Products containing 10 percent or less DEET are the most appropriate for children from 2 to 12 years of age. Use repellents as directed by the manufacturer.
- Install tight-fitting window and door screens. Check for and repair any tears in residential screens, including porches and patios. Try to keep doors and windows shut, especially at night.
- Reduce or eliminate the amount of standing water around your home. Remove old tires, tin cans, flower pots and buckets and change the water in birdbaths at least once a week. Any container holding water for more than four days can become a breeding ground for thousands of mosquitoes.
- Keep gutters clear of debris.
- Keep grass cut short and shrubbery well trimmed around your home.
- Eliminate yard ruts and puddles.
- Aerate ornamental ponds or stock with larvae eating fish.
- Use Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti), available in hardware stores, in any standing water around your home.
For more information on mosquito control, visit www.naperville.il.us/mosquitocontrol.aspx.
