One year ago, West Nile Virus fears were buzzing around the state.

One year later, deaths have lessened and so has the risk.

According to Daniel Stretch, director of environmental health for the Coles County Health Department, there were almost 900 cases of West Nile Virus that contributed to 66 deaths in Illinois last year.

“Last I heard, there have only been two cases in Illinois this year,” Stretch said.

He attributed the significant difference to environmental changes.

“This is a totally different type of year, weather-wise,” Stretch said. “Last year was hot and dry which was ideal for culex mosquitoes; this year is much different.”

The Culex mosquito is the primary transmitter of the virus to humans, horses and birds, Stretch said.

The city of Charleston is contributing to area virus prevention efforts in a couple ways, said Mayor Dan Cougill.

“We do fogging throughout town,” Cougill said, “sometimes as often as twice a week.”

The city also fogs before special events–for example, before the weekly community band concerts Thursdays at Kiwanis Park.

Code enforcement inspectors carefully watch for old tires or anything that could be breeding grounds for mosquitoes, he said.

The city will continue to fog until mosquito season is over.

Last year, the area saw a damp spring and hot, dry summer, which prevented the natural flow of water and led to the still, stagnant water where mosquitoes lay eggs.

“The culex is a container breeder,” Stretch said. “It stays in the area of where it’s hatched.”

To keep mosquitoes away from residential areas, Stretch advised that residents get rid of areas where they can breed. “I’d have owners eliminate anything that holds water.”

Old tires, trash, bottles, cans and kiddie pools can hold stagnant water and provide breeding grounds for the culex mosquito.

Stretch also recommended keeping gutters and bird baths clean.

For individual prevention, Stretch said the best approach is staying indoors around dusk and dawn.

For those who cannot avoid venturing outside, long sleeved shirts, long pants and insect repellent containing DEET are best for escaping mosquito bites.

Stretch said insect repelling candles and torches have a moderate effect on mosquitoes.

“Mosquitoes are basically repelled by the smoke, so they work if you want to smoke out your whole yard,” he said. “Bug zappers don’t work well either. They draw mosquitoes, so they actually make it worse.”

Beyond individual and residential attempts, the health department and city have joined efforts to avoid another West Nile outbreak.

“As a county, we just ended our mosquito surveillance program,” Stretch said.

The health department hired a specialist to identify risk sites and try to prevent breeding.

“We applied larvacide to potential breeding sites,” he said. “That should carry us hopefully to the first frost.”

City Editor Carly Mullady can be reached at [email protected].