Press Release from the Illinois Department of Public Health

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has confirmed the first human case of West Nile virus reported in Illinois for 2017.  A Will County resident in his 60s became ill at the end of June.

“This is typically the time of year we start to see human cases of West Nile virus in Illinois,” said Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Nirav D. Shah, M.D., J.D.  “Although the flooding in northeastern Illinois may be producing a large number of floodwater mosquitoes, those mosquitoes do not carry West Nile virus.  However, the hot, dry conditions we’ve been seeing around the rest of Illinois, which leave small, stagnant pockets of standing water, create ideal breeding sites for the type of mosquito that does carry West Nile virus.”

The first human case of West Nile virus in 2016 was reported early in the year, on June 6, 2016.  Last year, 61 counties in Illinois reported a West Nile virus positive mosquito batch, bird and/or human case.  For the 2016 season, IDPH reported 155 human cases (although human cases are underreported), including six deaths.

 

Monitoring for West Nile virus in Illinois includes laboratory tests for mosquito batches, dead crows, blue jays, robins and other perching birds, as well as testing humans with West Nile virus-like symptoms.  People who observe a sick or dying crow, blue jay, robin or other perching bird should contact their local health department, which will determine if the bird will be picked up for testing.

West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of a Culex pipiens mosquito, commonly called a house mosquito, which has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird.  Common symptoms include fever, nausea, headache and muscle aches.  Symptoms may last from a few days to a few weeks.  However, four out of five people infected with West Nile virus will not show any symptoms.  In rare cases, severe illness including meningitis or encephalitis, or even death, can occur.  People older than 50 and individuals with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for severe illness from West Nile virus.

While IDPH is also monitoring for Zika virus, which is primarily transmitted through the bite of a mosquito, the main type of mosquito that carries Zika virus, Aedes aegypti, is different and is very rarely found in Illinois.  However, taking some simple precautions can help you avoid mosquito bites, regardless of the type of mosquito or the diseases they carry.

Precautions include practicing the three “R’s” – reduce, repel, and report.

REDUCE – make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens.  Repair or replace screens that have tears or other openings.  Try to keep doors and windows shut.

•  Eliminate, or refresh each week, all sources of standing water where mosquitoes can breed, including water in bird baths, ponds, flowerpots, wading pools, old tires, and any other containers.

REPEL – when outdoors, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, and apply insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR 3535 according to label instructions.  Consult a physician before using repellents on infants.

REPORT – report locations where you see water sitting stagnant for more than a week such as roadside ditches, flooded yards, and similar locations that may produce mosquitoes.  The local health department or city government may be able to add larvicide to the water, which will kill any mosquito eggs.

 

Additional information about West Nile virus can be found on the IDPH website.

https://www.ilnews.org/news/state_politics/breen-democrat-s-school-funding-bill-latest-in-series-of/article_6a391f56-6b56-11e7-8dc7-4f031db91327.html

SPRINGFIELD, IL – (Greg Bishop, Illinois News Network.  Please click on the link above for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

The next battle at the Illinois Statehouse is likely over state funding for public schools, which are in desperate need of checks next month. But that money may not be there without funding reform, and critics of the majority party say waiting until the last minute to resolve problems seems to be the Democrats’ modus operandi.

State Rep. Peter Breen, R-Lombard, said Senate Bill 1 is a Chicago Public Schools bailout and another of what he called “blackmail bills,” where lawmakers are pressured at the last minute to support things that aren’t good for taxpayers.

Breen referenced several examples. One was the threat that 911 services would be shut down unless, according to Breen, unnecessary fee increases were approved. Another was the threat of a downgrade of state bonds to junk status if lawmakers didn’t approve a budget with $5 billion in tax increases.

“No compromise. No other options,” Breen said. “[It’s just], ‘You’ve got to vote for this bill.’”

Breen said the same thing is happening with the school funding reform bill.

http://www.kfvs12.com/story/35901057/body-recovered-from-the-confluence-of-mississippi-ohio-rivers

MISSISSIPPI COUNTY, MO  (KFVS, TV.  Please click on the link for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

Emergency crews have recovered a body from the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers near the 60/62 bridge.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a fisherman called at 7:41 a.m. on Monday, July 17 to report a body in the water

The victim has not been identified, but Captain Barry Morgan with the Mississippi County Sheriff’s Department confirmed it is an adult man.

Register today for your chance to participate in two new game shows!

Press Release from the Illinois Department of Agriculture

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Two popular televised games shows are making their way to the Illinois State Fair.  Do you have what it takes to compete?  Online registration is now open for those brave enough to compete at the 2017 Illinois State Fair.

This year, the Illinois State Fair will be hosting its own versions of The Newlywed Game and Beat Shazam on the fair’s newest stage, The Rising Star stage. Participants who sign up to play will have the opportunity to win two free tickets to that evening’s grandstand concert!

In The Newlywed Game, two couples will face off against each other by answering a series of questions to determine which couple knows each other better! You don’t have to be a newlywed to participate.  We welcome couples who have been married for 8 days to 80 years!

Beat the DJ is the Illinois State Fair’s take on this summer’s new game show, Beat Shazam on FOX.  Two teams of two will battle it out to see who can correctly name songs the fastest before testing their musical IQ against a local radio DJ. 

To register for a chance to compete in these fun competitions, sign up online at illinoisstatefair.info.  Registration can be found under the Competition tab.  Participants will be notified by email if they have been selected to compete.