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Chicago Tribune
4 days ago
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Spraying stepped up in Lake County to combat West Nile virus; ‘All … residents should take precautions to protect themselves'
A recent and significant increase in the number of mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus in areas of Lake County has prompted heightened spraying and other measures to keep the potential spread of the disease at a minimum. George Balis, the Midwest regional manager for Clarke Environmental Mosquito Management, said his company has significantly increased its spraying efforts in Waukegan, North Chicago, Gurnee, Zion, Beach Park and other communities. 'There has been a dramatic increase in the number of mosquitoes testing positive for West Nile virus in the last three weeks,' Balis said. Clarke started overnight adult mosquito abatement spraying on Aug 4 in Waukegan and other nearby communities in an effort to significantly reduce the number of insects capable of causing the West Nile virus in people. Along with the citywide spraying, Waukegan Public Works Director Chris Garland said in an email that a special mosquito treatment was planned at the Waukegan Municipal Beach ahead of Friday's Touch a Truck event. 'Our main goal is to help keep the community safe and healthy, especially during peak mosquito season,' Garland said. 'With the recent stretch of hot weather and heavy rain, mosquito activity has increased — including species that can carry West Nile virus.' Emily Young, the Lake County Health Department's marketing and communications manager, said in an email on Wednesday that 56 batches out of 337 tested were positive for West Nile virus. One person in the county has become ill with the disease. The county does not disclose where the patient lives. So far this summer, three people have tested positive for the disease in Illinois, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health's website. The other two are in DuPage County and downstate Wayne County. Though the number of people who can become seriously ill or die from West Nile virus is very small, Balis said it can happen. Of those who contract the virus, approximately 80% will feel very little, but around 20% will feel more severe symptoms like 'summer flu.' Of those who fall in the 20% category, Balis said, 1% can contract a neuroinvasive form of the disease. It can require hospitalization. As airborne insects, mosquitoes can travel, which is why Young said everyone in the county should use precautions. 'Mosquito surveillance trap data lets us know West Nile virus is present in mosquitoes in the county,' Young said. 'As infected mosquitoes do not always stay in one area, all Lake County residents should take precautions to protect themselves.' Young recommends using the 'Four Ds' to protect against being infected by mosquitoes which may carry the virus. The tasks are draining all standing water, defend yourself and your family by using EPA-approved insect repellent, limit outdoor time between dawn and dusk and dress wearing clothes and shoes that cover your skin. When dealing with standing water — whether in a birdbath, a sewer drain or a puddle in the yard — Balis said it should be removed within three to five days. Female mosquitoes lay eggs in still water where they mature and hatch. If there is no water, they will not hatch and grow wings.
CBS News
12-02-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Waukegan, Illinois prepares for snow with North Shore to get hit hard Wednesday
WAUKEGAN, Ill. (CBS) -- The North Shore suburbs of Chicago could see the most accumulation as a snowstorm bears down on Chicago. Widespread accumulating snow is expected in the late morning and lasting through the afternoon and evening. A winter weather advisory is in effect from 9 a.m. Wednesday until 3 a.m. Snowfall amounts are shaping up to be around 4" to 6", with localized higher amounts near the immediate lakeshore, especially along the North Shore up to Kenosha County, Wisconsin. In Waukegan, crews were out ahead of time Tuesday night to make sure the roads would be clear. While some school districts have called off classes for Wednesday, the Waukegan Community Unit School District #60 was not one of them as of 10 p.m. But with 6 or more includes expected to hit Waukegan during the day and rush hour, it was all-hands-on-deck Tuesday. Lamont Ivy and employees with his private snowplow company know it takes salt, and lots of it, to make their job on Wednesday easier. Wednesday, of course, is when they must plow what is expected to be the most snow people in Waukegan have seen this season. "We've been practicing all winter for this, and now the Super Bowl is coming tomorrow," said Ivy. Ivy's company has eight trucks and six employees. Ivy said Tuesday was full of visits to spray the sidewalks and roads with salt for their 16 clients — including Shiloh Towers in Zion. "[Shiloh Towers] is a senior living facility, so it's a lot of older people and disabled people," Ivy said, "so we have to make sure that they're are able to get out and get up to their appointments." Alonzo Jenkins with Waukegan Public Works said on Wednesday, the department's fleet of 32 of what they call snow fighters will be out firs thing in the morning. "You never know what you're going to get when you live by the lake," Jenkins said. The department plants to treat the roads with sodium chloride, or regular rock salt (NaCl), and another kind of salt, calcium chloride (CaCl₂), before the main system hits between what is expected to be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. "We want to make sure that, you know, we don't waste material, still make sure that everybody's safe," Jenkins said. Waukegan Public Works said with the mild winter last year, it has plenty of salt for the roads. The department also wants to remind people that if they park on a designated snow route, to move their cars Tuesday night or Wednesday morning so its workers can get their jobs done.
