First West Nile Virus Death Reported In Illinois: Officials

ILLINOIS — The Illinois Department of Health announced Friday the first death in the state related to West Nile virus, according to a news release. The Will County resident became ill in late August, officials said.

"Although we are already into fall, we are expecting a warm weekend and West Nile virus remains a risk until the first hard frost," said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. "It's important for everyone to continue taking precautions such as using insect repellent, wearing long sleeve shirts and pants, and staying indoors between dusk and dawn."

Forty human cases of West Nile virus have been reported so far this year in Illinois, according to IDPH. Last year there were 42 reported human cases and four deaths, according to IDPH.

The first reported case of the West Nile virus in a human in the state was confirmed in August. That case involved a Cook County resident in his 80s who had become ill in June. Other cases have since been reported in Will and Lake Counties.

Related:

• First Human Case Of West Nile Virus In State Is Cook County Man
• Deerfield Resident Contracts West Nile Virus
• Two More Bolingbrook Mosquitoes Test Positive For West Nile Virus
• Fourth Mosquito Tests Positive For West Nile Virus In Will County

West Nile virus is contracted through mosquito bites. Symptoms include fever, nausea, headache and muscle aches, according to IDPH.

IDPH is reminding residents to practice the three Rs: 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. Consult a physician before using repellents on infants.

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.

Additional information about West Nile virus can be found on the IDPH website.