(CAPITOL CITY NOW) – The Illinois Department of Public Health has confirmed the first West Nile virus death in the state this year. A Lake County resident in their 80s developed symptoms in mid-August and passed away shortly thereafter. IDPH is also reporting nine non-fatal cases across the state. Most of these cases were reported in Cook County, with others in DuPage, Will, Winnebago, and Tazewell counties. Last year, six people died from the virus in Illinois.

IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra emphasized the ongoing risk of WNV, particularly to older adults and those with weakened immune systems He urged the public to take precautions as mosquito activity remains high in warm weather. The virus is transmitted through the bite of a Culex mosquito that has fed on an infected bird. While most infected individuals do not exhibit symptoms, WNV can cause severe illness, including brain infections like meningitis or encephalitis, paralysis, or death. There is currently no specific treatment or vaccine for WNV.

To combat the spread of WNV, IDPH recommends the public practice the three “R’s”: reduce, repel, and report. This includes eliminating standing water where mosquitoes breed, using insect repellent, and reporting stagnant water to local authorities. The agency continues to monitor the situation through environmental surveillance, which includes testing mosquito batches, dead birds, and sick horses. So far in 2024, WNV-positive mosquitoes, birds, and one horse have been identified in 57 counties across Illinois. The first mosquito batches to test positive for WNV this year were reported May 14 in Cook and Morgan Counties.