As Lake County ramps up its chemical warfare on pesky mosquitoes, residents are being advised to defend themselves against critters carrying the West Nile virus. According to Chicago Tribune, the mosquito squad, led by Clarke Environmental Mosquito Management, has beefed up spraying in Waukegan and surrounding areas after a sizable jump in West Nile-carrying mosquitoes.
The hot and wet blanket that has been Chicago's summer isn't helping matters. Packed with mosquitoes and ticks, the area has been flagged with a high risk of West Nile virus by the Cook County Department of Public Health, finding nearly every nook and cranny buzzing with infected mosquitoes. "The rate at which mosquitoes are testing positive right now, at least in Cook County, is higher at this time of the year than we were last year, or the two years prior to that," Dr. Katrine Wallace of the University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health told CBS News. Meanwhile, mosquito abatement trucks were set to make the night air in Avondale and Logan Square thick with insecticide.
In response to the creepy crawlers, the local health department has gone on the offensive, declaring war on any standing water—which serves as a mosquito maternity ward—and urging Lake County to stay protected. Emily Young from the Lake Department of Health's marketing and communications department put out a call to arms, recommending the "Four Ds" — draining, defending, avoiding dawn and dusk, and dressing appropriately. Despite the response, there's still one confirmed human casualty from the West Nile virus in Lake County, with three reported in Illinois so far, as per the Illinois Department of Public Health.
The situation garnered special treatment at Waukegan Municipal Beach as officials prepared for the Touch a Truck event, taking no chances with the winged menace. "Our main goal is to help keep the community safe and healthy, especially during peak mosquito season," said Chris Garland, Waukegan Public Works Director, in an email obtained by the Chicago Tribune. While mosquitoes have become an unwanted summer fixture, local authorities are urging the public to adopt preventive measures, from insect repellent to repairing torn window screen,s to keep the bloodsuckers and their pathogens at bay.
