Chicago (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced the first human case of West Nile virus (WNV) in Illinois for 2024, involving a person in their 60s from suburban Cook County who showed symptoms in mid-June. Confirmation by the CDC is pending. The IDPH is monitoring WNV through positive bird and mosquito batches, with 33 counties reporting positive results so far.

In 2023, Illinois had 119 human WNV cases and six deaths, an increase from 34 cases and seven deaths in 2022. IDPH funds mosquito control efforts across the state, providing $2.8 million to local health departments for vector surveillance and control, including larvicide application and public education.

WNV is transmitted by Culex mosquitoes feeding on infected birds, with common symptoms like fever, headache, and muscle aches, lasting days to weeks. Most infected individuals show no symptoms, but severe cases can lead to brain infections, paralysis, or death, especially in those over 50 or immunocompromised.

There is no specific treatment or vaccine for WNV, making prevention crucial. IDPH advises the public to “Fight the Bite” by practicing the three “R’s”:

Reduce standing water sources where mosquitoes breed.
Repel mosquitoes with appropriate clothing and EPA-registered repellents.
Report stagnant water to local authorities for larvicide treatment.

Surveillance includes testing mosquito batches, dead birds, and sick horses, with public reporting encouraged for sick or dying birds. Further information is available on the IDPH’s West Nile virus dashboard.