Alerts

We are sharing this information at the request of the Sangamon/Menard County Public Health Department.

MENARD COUNTY MOSQUITO TRAPS TEST POSITVE FOR WEST NILE VIRUS

Menard County has been tested for and determined to be positive for West Nile Virus. Specifically, the City of Petersburg and the City of Athens had mosquitoes caught in traps which tested at the maximum level. Once a county tests positive, it will remain noted as such for the remainder of the year.

Residents of the county are encouraged to use precautionary measures to protect themselves from mosquitoes. Those measures include:

Drain standing water around your home. Standing water serves as a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Apply EPA-registered insect repellents containing 10% to 50% DEET (for adults) and 20% to 25% DEET (for children).

Limit your time outdoors during both dusk and dawn.

Make certain that all screens are in good repair and tight fitting.

When bitten by an infected mosquito, most people do not get ill although some people may develop symptoms that are mild. Those include fever, headache, rash and body aches three to 15 days after infection. More severe symptoms can result in high fever, stiff neck, confusion, muscle weakness and inflammation of the brain, which could lead to permanent neurological damage or death.