More West Nile Virus cases reported in La Salle County

Two more dead crows have tested positive in La Salle County for the West Nile Virus.

A crow picked up in Oglesby Thursday tested positive one day after a crow in Mendota tested positive. Five birds this month have been carrying the virus which if caught by humans can lead to nausea, a fever, headache and muscle aches. The county health department hasn’t had any confirmed human cases of the virus yet.

The virus is passed on by a mosquito which feeds on an infected bird. You should report to the county health department any dead crows, blue jays, robins or potential mosquito breeding sites.

Flood warning issued along Illinois River

Heavy rains of 1 to 2 inches early Saturday morning has necessitated a Flood Warning along the Illinois River in LaSalle and Ottawa. The National Weather Service said that shortly after 2pm. , the level at Ottawa was 460.8 feet. The river is expected to go above the 463 foot flood stage by Sunday afternoon and fall below flood stage by late Monday morning.

Minor flooding is forecast there and at LaSalle where flood stage is 20 feet. At 1:45pm Saturday, the level was 18.8 feet. The National Weather Service expects it to go above flood stage Sunday morning and fall below flood stage by Wednesday evening.