Mosquito Control & West Nile Virus

Mosquito Hotline
In the summer months, trucks canvas Bloomingdale neighborhoods to spray for mosquitoes. Residents who live in Bloomingdale Township are served by Clarke Mosquito Control. Residents can contact Clarke's Mosquito Hotline at 800-942-2555 to get put on the list to be notified when spraying will be occurring in their neighborhood.

West Nile Virus
Mosquito control is an important step in stopping the spread of diseases like West Nile Virus (WNV). WNV is a potentially serious illness. Experts believe WNV is established as a seasonal epidemic in North America that flares up in the summer and continues into the fall. This fact sheet contains important information that can help you recognize and prevent WNV.

Preventing WNV
The best way to reduce mosquito bites and to prevent West Nile disease or any other mosquito-borne illness is to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and to take personal precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Precautions include practicing the three “R’s” – reduce, repel and report.


REDUCE
Exposure -
  • Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are most active, especially between dusk and dawn.
  • 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, especially at night.
  • Eliminate all sources of standing water where mosquitoes can breed, including flowerpots, wading pools, old tires and any other receptacles. Change water in bird baths weekly.
REPEL - when outdoors, 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.  If temperatures allow wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt.

REPORT
- In communities where there are organized mosquito control programs like the Village of Bloomingdale, report areas of stagnant water in roadside ditches, flooded yards and similar locations that may produce mosquitoes to the mosquito hotlne at (800) 942-2555.
Personal Protection Index
The DuPage County Health Department has an online tool to help educate the public about the potential risk of contracting WNV. The alert system, known as the Personal Protection Index (PPI), alerts residents of WNV risk level and advises them of the precautions they should take to protect themselves.

Based on the DuPage County Health Department's review of human and mosquito surveillance data, the PPI widget will be updated by 3 p.m. each Wednesday throughout the WNV season.
Personal Protection Index