Health officials announced Tuesday that a Lake County resident has become the first person this year in Illinois to die from West Nile virus.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) said the individual was in their 80s and lived in Lake County.
The person had an onset of symptoms of West Nile virus in mid-August and died soon after.
The death marks the first Illinois resident of 2024 whose death was attributed to West Nile virus.
“Sadly, Illinois is reporting our first death of the year attributed to West Nile virus,” IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra said.
“This death – and the six that occurred last year in Illinois – are a stark reminder that West Nile virus poses a serious risk, especially to older people and those with weakened immune systems,” Vohra said.
“This is why while warm weather continues and mosquitoes are breeding, we should all take steps to ‘Fight the Bite.’ Please protect yourself and your loved ones by reducing exposures, repelling insects with clothing and repellents, and reporting locations at high risk for producing mosquitoes,” he added.
IDPH also reported there have been nine non-fatal cases of West Nile virus confirmed to date this year.
The majority were reported from Cook County, with others in DuPage, Will, Winnebago and Tazewell counties.
The first West Nile virus-related death in Illinois in 2023 also had an onset of symptoms in August. There were six deaths from West Nile virus confirmed in the state in 2023 and an additional 119 non-fatal cases.
The youngest person to report a case of West Nile virus in Illinois last year was 33 years old, while the median age was 67.
West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of a Culex mosquito, commonly known as a typical mosquito, which has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird.
Common symptoms of West Nile virus include fever, nausea, headache and muscle aches.
Symptoms may last from a few days to a few weeks. Four out of five people infected with West Nile virus will not show any symptoms.
“However, in rare cases, severe illness can occur, including brain infections such as meningitis or encephalitis and paralysis or even death. People older than 50 and immunocompromised individuals are at higher risk for severe illness from West Nile virus,” the IDPH said.
There is no specific treatment for West Nile virus and there is also no vaccine for it. “… it is critically important that people minimize their risk of being infected by it,” health officials said.
The IDPH said they encourage the public to “Fight the Bite” and take steps to prevent West Nile virus by practicing the three “R’s” — reduce, repel and report.
Residents are recommended to ensure their doors and windows have tight-fitting screens and eliminate sources of standing water where mosquitoes can breed.
People should also wear shoes and socks, long pants and long-sleeved shirts when outside while applying an EPA-registered insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR 3535.
Residents should report locations where they see water sitting stagnant for more than a week which 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.
Last year, 67 counties in Illinois reported positive West Nile virus mosquitoes, birds, humans and horses.
There have been 2,113 positive mosquito batches, 29 positive birds and one positive horse from 57 counties in Illinois so far this year.