1st Human Case Of West Nile Virus Reported In Lake County

LAKE COUNTY, IL — The first human case of West Nile virus in 2023 has been reported in Lake County, health officials said last week.

A Lake County resident in their 60s became ill from the virus in September, according to a news release from the health department.

"Nobody likes to get sick, especially from something as little as a mosquito bite,” said health department executive director Mark Pfister. “By taking steps to protect ourselves from mosquitoes, we can keep potentially severe illness at bay.”

So far this year, 144 out of 676 batches of mosquitoes, or 21 percent, have tested positive for West Nile virus, according to health department officials.

Most people infected with West Nile virus have no symptoms of illness. However, some may become ill usually three to 15 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito, and symptoms can include fever, nausea, headache and muscle aches.

In few individuals, neuroinvasive illness such as meningitis, which is inflammation of tissue surrounding the spinal cord, or encephalitis, which involves inflammation of tissue surrounding the brain, can occur. In rare cases, some people die from West Nile virus, according to the news release.

People over the age of 60 years old and individuals with weakened immune systems and multiple medical conditions are at higher risk for severe illness from West Nile virus.

You can follow the following tips to protect yourself and your family members, including to drain standing water from items around your home, yard and business; use an EPA-approved bug spray containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, 2-undecanone, or IR3535; protest yourself all day and night and wear repellent when outdoors; and wear long sleeves, pants and closed toe shoes when outdoors to cover your skin.

M0re information on West Nile virus can be found only here. Residents can also call the health department’s West Nile hotline to report areas of stagnant water, report locations of dead birds, and obtain more information on the signs and symptoms of West Nile virus.

The West Nile hotline number is (847) 377-8300.