Although it still feels cold outside, it is only a matter of a few weeks until the grass turns green, the trees start to bud and the birds return from the south. In addition to the reappearance of millions of hibernating Chicagoans, we will also witness the return of those stinging pests, mosquitoes, and with them, West Nile Virus. Last summer and fall, it seems you could not look in the paper without reading about another case of the disease afflicting our neighbors. Is it likely to be here again this summer? Unfortunately, public health authorities say yes.

West Nile virus is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito, and can infect people, horses, many types of birds and other animals. The vast majority of those infected will NOT manifest symptoms. Approximately 20% of those infected will actually get West Nile fever: a flu like illness with fever, headache, body aches, occasionally with a skin rash and swollen glands. The symptoms will typically last a few days and resolves without treatment. There is no medication to treat the illness, nor is there a vaccine at this time.

Less than 1% of infected patients develop West Nile encephalitis, a potentially life threatening illness characterized by high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation, convulsions, muscle weakness, paralysis or coma. This is the dreaded form of the disease that has claimed the lives of sixty-two Illinoisans in 2002. Persons at the highest risk for serious illness are those 50 years of age or older. Currently, there are thirty-five known non-life threatening cases here in Illinois. Care for this disorder is supportive, as again there is no specific medication that can be given to kill the virus. Blood tests are available that can be sent to the Department of Public Health to confirm the illness, but they take days or longer to return.

Human illness form the virus is rare, even in our area. The chance that you will get the disease from a mosquito bite is very low. You can further reduce your chance of illness by avoiding mosquito bites. Wear long sleeved clothing and long pants, and consider spraying an insect repellant (DEET) on those clothes to prevent the mosquito from 'biting through' your clothes. Consider staying indoor at peak mosquito times: dawn, dusk and early evening. Try to eliminate standing water around your home, which is where mosquitoes lay their eggs. Empty standing water in old tires, urns, buckets, plastic covers, toys, or any other container. Empty and change the water in bird baths, fountains, wading pools, rain barrels, and potted plant trays at least once a week if not more often. Keep swimming pools treated and circulating and rain gutters unclogged. If you should develop symptoms that you think could be the more severe type of West Nile illness, you should consult with your physician immediately.