By Neal Doyle

The summer hasn’t officially begun, but state health officials have issued the season’s first mosquito warning. Illinois Department of Public Health officials say it could be a year with exceptionally large mosquito populations. Department Spokesperson Melanie Arnold says areas that have seen a lot of rain or flooding can expect to see a lot more mosquitoes. She adds, however, that most of the mosquitoes will simply be a nuisance, not carriers of serious disease. Public Health officials say the species of mosquito that carries the West Nile virus breeds in stagnant water. Those mosquitoes will become more plentiful if the state’s weather takes a sharp, warm turn. Arnold says bug spray is your best bet to keep the mosquitoes away. But she says long sleeves, pants, and long socks also help.