The West Nile Virus has claimed the life of a suburban Cook County resident in their 90s. It’s Illinois’ first West Nile-related death of the year. Symptoms of West Nile Virus started for the individual in early August, and the Illinois Department of Public Health reports they died soon after. Eleven other non-fatal cases have been confirmed so far this year in the state. The virus is spread by mosquitos.

IDPH encourages the public to Fight the Bite and take steps to prevent WNV by practicing the three R’s – reduce, repel, and report:
  • REDUCE – make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have tears or other openings. Try to keep doors and windows shut. Eliminate, or refresh each week, all sources of standing water where mosquitoes can breed, including water in bird baths, ponds, flowerpots, wading pools, old tires, and any other containers.
  • REPEL – when outdoors, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a light-colored, long-sleeved shirt, and apply an EPA-registered insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR 3535 according to label instructions. The CDC does not recommend use of products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol on children under 3 years old. Consult a physician before using repellents on children under 3.
  • REPORT – report locations where you see water sitting stagnant for more than a week such as roadside ditches, flooded yards, and similar locations that may produce mosquitoes. The local health department or city government may be able to add larvicide to the water, which will kill any mosquito larvae.

IDPH has confirmed cases in five additional counties including Macon, Madison, Kane, Woodford and Will counties.  People older than 50 and immunocompromised people are at a higher risk for severe illness. Symptoms include fever, nausea, headache and muscle aches. Symptoms may last from a few days to a few weeks. Four out of five people infected with West Nile virus will not show any symptoms, according to public health officials. However, in rare cases, severe illness can occur, including brain infections such as meningitis or encephalitis and paralysis or even death.