West Nile Virus lands in Mclean County

Posted on July 2, 2015

*West Nile Virus found in McLean County. (Flickr)*

By Terry James

CHENOA – No one is immune from mosquito bites and you may want take precautions as a bird found in Chenoa was infected with the West Nile Virus.

“We encourage people to wear shoes and socks,” said Mclean County Health Department Spokeswoman Lisa Slater. “I think the weather is going to cooperate cause it’s not so hot that you’d be uncomfortable wearing pants or long sleeve shirts. It doesn’t have to heavy material, but something that covers the skin.”

She said this is the first case of west nile this year in McLean County.

A press release says McLean County is one of nine counties across the state to have West Nile Virus activity so far this year. The first West Nile Virus positive mosquito collection occurred in northern Illinois in June. Last year, McLean County had two West Niel Virus positive birds and no positive human cases. Statewide last year, 49 of the state’s 102 counties had positive West Nile Virus cases involving humans, birds, mosquitoes and/or horses. Human cases numbered 44 and resulted in 4 deaths.

Terry James can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…