The LaSalle County Health Department has confirmed the first finding of West Nile Virus in local mosquitoes this year after a batch collected in Marseilles on Tuesday tested positive for the virus.
This discovery is the latest in a series of similar detections across the greater Chicago area in recent weeks, with positive tests also reported in DuPage County and several northern suburbs.
While health officials state the risk of human infection remains low, they are urging the public to take preventative measures. To avoid mosquito bites, residents are advised to use insect repellent, wear loose-fitting clothing, and limit outdoor activity during peak mosquito hours at dawn and dusk.
Authorities also recommend eliminating potential breeding grounds by regularly emptying standing water from items such as buckets, birdbaths, and clogged gutters around homes.
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