Illinois reports first death of the year from West Nile virus

The first Illinois resident to die from West Nile virus this year was a Lake County resident who succumbed to the disease earlier this month, the state health department announced Tuesday.

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the person, who was over 80 years old, began experiencing symptoms in mid-August and died shortly thereafter.

Illinois has also reported nine non-fatal cases of West Nile virus so far this year, most of them in Cook County, with others in DuPage, Will, Winnebago and Tazewell counties.

Last year, six Illinois residents died from the disease, which is transmitted through mosquito bites.

“Sadly, Illinois is reporting its first death of the year attributed to West Nile virus,” said Dr. Sameer Vohra, director of the state Department of Public Health, in a news release. “This death – and the six deaths that occurred in Illinois last year – are a stark reminder that West Nile virus poses a serious risk, especially to the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.”

About 80% of people with the virus do not show symptoms. But those who do often experience fever, nausea, headache and muscle aches that last for a few days to weeks. In rare cases, people can become seriously ill, suffering from brain infections such as meningitis or encephalitis, as well as paralysis or death. People over 50 or those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of severe illness.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 289 cases of West Nile virus have been reported in 33 states so far this year.

There is no specific treatment or vaccination against the virus.

State health officials recommend that people protect themselves from the virus by keeping windows and doors closed and making sure they have tight-fitting screens. They also recommend weekly cleaning or replacing sources of standing water where mosquitoes can breed, such as birdbaths, ponds, flowerpots and wading pools. They also recommend wearing clothing that covers the skin when outside and using an EPA-approved insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, lemon eucalyptus oil or IR 3535.

They also recommend reporting places where water has been stagnant for more than a week, such as ditches and flooded yards, so that local health departments or municipalities can take care of them.

The death in Illinois came shortly after news that Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's former top infectious disease expert, was recently recovering at home after being hospitalized for the illness.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Originally published: August 27, 2024 at 16:37