Rock Island County Mosquitoes Test Positive For West Nile Virus

Mosquitoes in Rock Island County have recently tested positive for West Nile Virus.

Mosquitoes are just part of life during warmer weather and unfortunately, they carry the nasty West Nile Virus with them. Our friends at KWQC report that the Rock Island County Health Department has confirmed that a batch of mosquitoes from the county tested positive for West Nile Virus.

Those mosquitoes are hardly the first in Illinois to test positive for the virus this summer. About a month and a half ago, the Chicago area had mosquitoes that tested positive for West Nile Virus.

Luckily though, according to the RICHD, so far no humans in Rock Island County have been infected with the virus.

It's still warm outside and experts say that the summery weather is not only when mosquitoes come out to play but it's also an easy time for viruses to be transferred. You can use mosquito repellant stuff like citronella to help them stay away and don't leave any standing water out.

Symptoms

Experts say 4 out of 5 infected people will not show symptoms of having West Nile Virus. But if you do start feeling sick after being around mosquitoes, symptoms of West Nile Virus in humans include fever, nausea, headaches, and muscle aches. Those will generally last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.

The Illinois Department of Public Health reminds you to take some simple precautions around yourself and around your home to avoid being bitten. They say you should practice the "three R's: reduce, repel, report".