Bird from Champaign County tests positive for West Nile Virus

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WAND) - A bird from Champaign County has tested positive for West Nile Virus.

As a result, the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District is reminding people to take precautions to reduce exposure to mosquito bites for the remainder of the season.

Drain standing Water. Help reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home by emptying standing water from flowerpots, gutters, buckets, pool covers, pet water dishes, discarded tires, and birdbaths on a regular basis.

Mosquito-proof your home by installing or repairing screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes outside.

Apply insect repellent when outdoors. The Centers for Disease Control recommends the use of insect repellent products containing active ingredients which have been registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for use as repellents applied to skin and clothing.

When weather permits, wear long sleeves, long pants, and socks when outdoors. Mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing, so spraying clothes with repellent containing permethrin or another EPA-registered repellent will give extra protection.

Take extra care to use insect repellent and wear protective clothing from dusk to dawn or consider avoiding outdoor activities during these times. The mosquitoes (Culex) that are most likely to transmit West Nile Virus are most active from dusk to dawn.

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