Mosquitoes near St. Charles Road and Westgate Drive in Carol Stream have tested positive for West Nile Virus, the village announced Tuesday, Aug. 18, marking the first confirmed detection in the community this year.
Clarke Mosquito Control, the village's contracted mosquito management provider, identified the virus in a trapped sample at that intersection, according to a Village of Carol Stream notice. No human cases have been reported.
Clarke conducted a village-wide mosquito control spray on Monday, July 27, as a precaution following the detection, the village said in a Facebook post. The village publicly confirmed the positive test result on Aug. 18. Treatments run between dusk and dawn. Clarke will continue monitoring traps and coordinating with the village on whether additional spraying is needed.
Regional trend
Carol Stream's detection fits a pattern across DuPage County and the western suburbs this summer. The Village of Downers Grove reported Aug. 10 that multiple samples in its traps had tested positive, with results trending upward in surrounding communities. Naperville officials confirmed positive samples in three of 10 traps during the weeks of July 20 and July 27, according to the Chicago Tribune.
In 2025, Illinois recorded 67 West Nile Virus cases statewide through mid-September, including one death — a suburban Cook County resident in their 60s. The state reported 13 total WNV deaths in 2024.
What residents should do
The village urged Carol Stream residents to take these steps to reduce risk:
- Eliminate standing water around homes, including in flower pots, gutters, birdbaths and old tires
- Use EPA-approved insect repellent when outdoors
- Wear long sleeves and pants, especially at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active
- Limit outdoor activity during peak mosquito hours
Residents can sign up for automated notifications about scheduled mosquito control applications or report standing-water concerns through Clarke's Resident Hotline at (800) 942-2555 or at clarkeportal.com/hotline. Clarke can also be reached at (800) 529-7715 for general questions.
