CHAMPAIGN — Asian tiger mosquitoes, which can carry the chikungunya virus, are turning up in Champaign County for a fourth summer in a row and have also been found in Vermilion County, public health officials said.
These mosquitoes that bite mostly during the daytime haven't spread the disease in Illinois so far, officials said.

But the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District has taken steps to warn travelers going to and ar¬¬riving from more heavily infected areas of the world about the risks and to prepare for potential chikungunya cases in the area.

That includes posting warning signs at Willard Airport and alerting local medical providers about chikungunya symptoms, which most commonly in¬¬clude fever and joint pain.

The Vermilion County Health Department has also found Asian tiger mosquitoes this summer but doesn't keep track of their numbers, according to Environmental Health Director Doug Toole.
The Asian tiger mosquito count may be down in the area this summer because it breeds much like Culex mosquitoes do, Blackford said. Culex mosquitoes, which can carry West Nile virus, like hot, dry weather and tend to breed in sources of standing water.     {info sumbitted}

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