[Skip To Content]


 The Village of Harwood Heights - Established 1947
Main Phone Number - 708-867-7200
Sun May 11, 2008
A small town of big opportunities.
Health News
Dear Residents:
 
I want to assure every citizen that the Village of Harwood Heights responded quickly when we learned that possibly two local children might have contracted West Nile Virus in Norridge Park. The Village immediately contacted our mosquito abatement service, Clark Mosquito, for an additional spraying.  This will take place on Friday, September 15th.   You may contact Clarke Mosquito directly with spraying times, etc. at 1-800- 942-2555.  The last spraying took place on September 7th, 2006, so the village has been proactive in its mosquito prevention treatment.  The village is doing whatever is necessary to prevent any further outbreaks; also the Norridge Park District decided it would be prudent to suspend all further active until the threat was eliminated and there was some confirmation from the Department of Public Health on the actual cause of illness. The general public must understand that the West Nile Virus first emerged in the United States in 1999 and the virus was first identified in Illinois in September 2001. In an effort to keep our citizens safe from West Nile Virus we continue to run prevention programming along with the Cook County Department of Public Health that maintains an environmental surveillance program. We ask that our residents follow these tips:
 
  1. Check around the outside of your home for containers that could hold water such as garbage cans, buckets, swimming pools, bird baths or pet bowls. Empty the water regularly or make sure the container is covered or turned over.
  2. Apply mosquito repellent containing 20-35% DEET. Use sparingly on exposed skin. Always follow the directions on the container. Concentrations of 10% DEET or less are recommended for children.
  3. Limit time outdoors when mosquito activity is heaviest (dusk through dawn). If you must be outside, keep skin covered; wear long-sleeved shirts, pants and socks.
  4. Be sure screens in homes are intact and tight fitting to prevent entry of insects.
  5. Keep gutters around home cleared of debris.
 
Residents can also get additional information from the following health departments or organizations:
 
  • Cook County Department of Public Health
  • Fight the Bite
  • Des Plaines Valley Mosquito Abatement District
  • North Shore Mosquito Abatement
  • Northwest Mosquito Abatement
  • Illinois Department of Public Health: West Nile Virus
 
 
Sincerely,
 
Mayor Margaret Fuller