
West Nile Virus Program
West Nile Virus Program
The Winnebago County Health Dept. investigates and monitors the mosquito population throughout the season of May-October. One of the first indicators of a problem is the sudden increase of dead birds; mainly crows. Calls can be made to our "dead crow" hotline at: (815) 720-4245 to report the location. Random pick ups and testing are then made to determine the possible presence of the West Nile Virus.
Traps are placed at random throughout the County to monitor the population and test for positive WNV readings from mosquito pools.
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Remember the 5 D’s
Illinois Dept. of Public Health - West Nile Virus
Centers for Disease Control - Fight the Bite
Frequently Asked Questions
2009 WNV Surveillance Overview of Activities
Encephalitis is carried by mosquitoes and there are 3 kinds of encephalitis viruses that cause human disease in Illinois. The most common form is known as West Nile Virus. This strain is an infection of birds and primarily affects older adults if bitten by an infected mosquito.
Mosquitoes can also affect dogs with heartworm. These heartworms can severely weaken or kill a dog if left untreated.








