First Will County Cases Of West Nile Virus Detected In Mosquitoes

MOKENA, IL — Will County’s first cases of West Nile Virus found in mosquitoes have been detected after batches trapped in Mokena, Frankfort, and Plainfield have been reported, county health officials said on Tuesday.

While no human cases of West Nile Virus have been reported so far this year, health officials are warning Will County residents to beware of mosquito bites and mosquito-borne diseases.

“We urge everyone — and especially older people and those with weakened immune systems — to take precautions to protect themselves and their families from mosquitoes and the viruses they carry by wearing insect repellent and eliminating standing water around their home where mosquitoes breed,” “Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Sameer Vohra said in a statement released by the agency.

West Nile Virus typically causes mild, flu-like symptoms. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, eight out of 10 people infected with West Nile virus do not develop any symptoms.

About one in five people who are infected develop a fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. Most people who develop symptoms from West Nile Virus recover completely, but fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or months, health officials said.

However, according to the CDC, about one in 150 people who are infected develop a severe illness that affects the central nervous system such as inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) or inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord (meningitis).

Severe illness can occur in people of any age. However, people over 60 years of age are at greater risk for severe illness if they are infected. People with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, and people who have received organ transplants, are also at greater risk.

Because there is no vaccine available to prevent West Nile virus, it is important to avoid mosquito bites, health officials warn.