Rainfall means more mosquitoes on the way

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - Farmers and those hoping for a cool down may be glad to see the rain, but heavy rainfall also means a resurgence of mosquitoes.

"Due to the recent rainfall, it is likely that we will see an increase in mosquito population," Emily O'Connell of the Macon County Health Department said.

It isn't just the annoying bites that mosquitoes can give you. They can also hand you Malaria or the West Nile Virus.

"The West Nile Virus is a mosquito born infection that can lead to fever, headaches, body aches, and even serious neurological diseases," O'Connell said.

Standing water is what you want to avoid having on your property because that's where mosquitoes breed. It doesn't take much water for the bugs to be happy. As little as a teaspoon of water can be enough.

There are ways to protect yourself over the summer months.

O'Connell says, "We can protect ourselves by wearing EPA registered repellents, making sure we're dressing appropriately when we're outdoors, and avoiding peak mosquito hours from dusk until dawn."

So far, there have been no confirmed cases of West Nile or Malaria in humans in Macon County.

Champaign has found cases of the West Nile virus through bird and mosquito testing.