Mosquito samples taken during the month of June have tested positive for the West Nile Virus. The samples were collected and processed by the Illinois Natural History Survey's medical entomology program, headed by Dr. Barry Alto. Interestingly, this is the first positive sample for West Nile since October 2007.
Since surveillance started this year in May, positive samples for West Nile virus have been found in eight other counties throughout Illinois, including: Adams, Bureau, Cook, DuPage, Knox, LaSalle, Madison and St. Clair counties.
The News-Gazette ran an article about the West Nile virus sample in the July 8, 2009 edition. The article was titled, "Champaign mosquito sample tests positive for West Nile."
