West Nile Virus

Since 2001 the West Nile Virus has spread from coast to coast. Illinois led the nation with the most cases in 2002 with over 800 human cases and 64 deaths. West Nile Virus activity has continued since then showing an increase in cases in Illinois during the hot summer months of 2005 and 2006 compared to cooler summers of 2003 and 2004. 

 2008 West Nile Virus Surveillance Data for Illinois. (IDPH)

Since then efforts have been underway within our community to “Fight the Bite” and no human cases have been reported in Macon County in the last 3 years.

 Macon County Health Department - "Fight the Bite" Program
 CDC - Fight the Bite" Program.
 
West Nile Virus is carried by mosquitoes that feed on a bird that has the virus in its blood.  Once the mosquito becomes infected it can transfer the virus by biting humans and other animals. List of Animals that can be affected.

 Signs and Symptoms of West Nile Virus.

Dead birds have been an important factor for early West Nile Virus activity.  For example, the Centers for Disease Control has found counties that record a West Nile Virus-positive bird before August 1^st were twice as likely to have a human case compared to those that recorded a West Nile Virus-positive bird after August 1^st.

The Macon County Health Department will be logging all bird calls from May 1^st through October 15^th.  Anyone who finds a dead bird, with no obvious cause of death, such as birds killed by a gunshot or birds found on the roadway that are most likely killed by cars, should call the health department and report it.  Logging all bird calls helps the health department and other agencies to monitor mosquito activity through out the county.

 Macon County Health Department Dead Bird Collection Guidelines.