Rain's Effect On West Nile in Central Illinois
By: Sophie Nielsen-Kolding WMBD/WYZZ TV
Updated: September 5, 2012
PEORIA- Health Department officials said this past weekends rain may have helped against the West Nile Virus problem.
Scientists have found the virus in mosquitoes and birds in Peoria., but only about one in every 150 people who are bitten by an infected mosquito will see serious symptoms.
Not all types of mosquitoes carry the virus, the ones we have seen so far have been house mosquitoes, which live in dirty stagnant water.
"So the recent rains we've had is actually a good thing with respect to this particular species because in theory the fresh water would come in, wash out those areas where we've had stagnant water sitting, if at all due to the drought and eliminate any potential breeding sites, said Greg Chance from the Peoria Health Department.
Although it might wash away signs of the West Nile Virus mosquitoes, Chance said these recent rains may attract flood water mosquitoes. While they don't carry West Nile, they tend to bite more aggressively.
Scientists have found the virus in mosquitoes and birds in Peoria., but only about one in every 150 people who are bitten by an infected mosquito will see serious symptoms.
Not all types of mosquitoes carry the virus, the ones we have seen so far have been house mosquitoes, which live in dirty stagnant water.
"So the recent rains we've had is actually a good thing with respect to this particular species because in theory the fresh water would come in, wash out those areas where we've had stagnant water sitting, if at all due to the drought and eliminate any potential breeding sites, said Greg Chance from the Peoria Health Department.
Although it might wash away signs of the West Nile Virus mosquitoes, Chance said these recent rains may attract flood water mosquitoes. While they don't carry West Nile, they tend to bite more aggressively.
