2 Human Deaths From West Nile Virus Reported In Illinois

CHICAGO — Though the cooler temperatures of fall typically lead to fewer cases of West Nile virus, health officials are reminding residents to remain diligent following the deaths of two Illinois residents.

Last week, the Illinois Department of Public Health announced a Will County resident was the first human death in the state related to the disease. In addition, a Chicago resident in their 80s, who became ill in mid-September, recently died from the virus. Both deaths were reported as the "first in the state" by various media outlets last week, but it's not clear which resident actually died first.

"The IDPH reports West Nile virus deaths based on the date it is reported to us and not by the date of death," Melaney Arnold, a public information officer for the state health department, told Patch regarding the conflicting reports. "The Will County death was reported to IDPH before the Cook County death."

RELATED: First West Nile Virus Death Reported In Illinois

Currently, 46 human cases of West Nile virus have been reported in Illinois, according to the state health department. The numbers are updated every Monday.

Here is a breakdown of cases by county:

• Cook — 25
• DuPage — 11
• Will — 4
• Kane — 2
• Lake — 2
• Champaign — 1
• Peoria — 1

Last year, there were 42 human cases, including four deaths. State health officials said human cases are often underreported. In 2020, 26 counties in Illinois reported a West Nile virus positive mosquito batch, bird, horse or human case.

West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito. Common symptoms include fever, nausea, headache and muscle aches. Symptoms may last from a few days to a few weeks, according to the state health department.

However, four out of five people infected with West Nile virus will not show symptoms. In rare cases, severe illnesses, including meningitis, encephalitis or even death, can occur. People older than 50 and immunocompromised individuals are at higher risk for severe illness.

“Although we are already into fall, we are expecting a warm weekend and West Nile virus remains a risk until the first hard frost,” Illinois public health director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said last week. “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.”

State health officials remind 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 Illinois Department of Public Health website.