Positive West Nile Virus Batches Detected In 7 Illinois Counties: IDPH

ILLINOIS — As summer settles in and mosquito season begins in earnest, the Illinois Department of Public Health is reporting that positive batches of the West Nile Virus have been reported in seven counties across the state.

Health officials said that so far, no human cases have been reported. But last year, 64 human cases and five deaths attributed to the disease were reported in Illinois. West Nile Virus is significantly under-reported, officials said, adding that as things heat up around Illinois it is critical for residents to protect themselves against mosquito bites.

The seven counties in which positive West Nile batches have been detected include DuPage County, where the first positive batch was detected in Roselle in May. Since then, Cook, Will, Logan, Edgar, Macoupin, and Washington counties have all reported cases, health officials said.

“West Nile virus is a serious illness, and we want to remind everyone to protect themselves from mosquito bites at this time of year when so many of us are spending more time outdoors,” IDPH Acting Director Amaal Tokars said in a news release on Thursday. “The most important things we can do are to wear insect repellent if we are spending time outside and eliminate standing water where mosquitos breed around our homes. These precautions are especially important for those with weakened immune systems”

Last year, the first case of West Nile Virus was in Skokie. In total, 48 counties across Illinois reported a West Nile virus-positive mosquito batch, bird, horse, and or human case, health officials said.

West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of a common house mosquito, that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird. Typical symptoms include fever, nausea, headache, and muscle aches. Symptoms may last from a few days to a few weeks.

However, four out of five people infected with the West Nile virus will not show any symptoms. In rare cases, severe illness including meningitis, encephalitis, or even death, can occur, officials said. People older than 60 and individuals with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for severe illness from the West Nile virus.