The current cold front hitting DeKalb County has affected mosquitoes carrying the deadly West Nile virus.

Bob Drake, head of the Solid Waste and Environment for DeKalb County, said the recent cold is not enough to kill off the mosquito population, and that freezing temperatures are necessary for a dramatic impact.

Even though mosquitoes are not being destroyed, the cold weather is slowing them down.

Drake said mosquitoes carrying the virus bite people at dawn, dusk and early evening. These times are some of the coldest of the day and affect mosquitoes the greatest.

“What I really would like is a good freeze,” Drake said.

NIU staff meteorologist Gilbert Sebenste said that despite the cold weather, it will not freeze for a while. The temperature recently has dipped to the 30s in some areas and has fallen to 41 degrees in DeKalb.

Sebenste also said mosquitoes are slowed in the morning, especially after a frost, but will be right back when it heats up in the afternoon.

The DeKalb County Health Department still says the key to preventing the spread of the West Nile virus is personal protection.

Any standing water should be eliminated, and people are advised to avoid going outside during times when mosquitoes are prevalent. Also, use insect repellents containing DEET.

Currently, DeKalb County has added larvicide briquettes to areas of standing water, which prevents mosquitoes from reaching adulthood.

For information on the West Nile virus and how it is transmitted, call the DeKalb County Department of Public Health at 758-6673, or visit the Centers for Disease Control’s Web site at www.cdc.gov.