Illinois is reporting its first West Nile virus death of the year — a suburban Cook County resident in their 60s, health officials said Wednesday.
Lab tests have confirmed that the virus contributed to the person’s death, according to the Cook County Department of Public Health and the Illinois Department of Public Health. Last year, there were five West Nile virus deaths in suburban Cook County, and a total of 13 deaths across Illinois.
People can get West Nile virus when they’re bitten by infected mosquitoes. Most people who catch the virus either have no symptoms or have mild symptoms including fever, headache, rash and body aches, which can develop three to 15 days after infection.
Severe symptoms can include a high fever, stiff neck, confusion, muscle weakness and inflammation of the brain, which can lead to neurological damage or death.
The risk of West Nile virus in Cook County is currently high, according to county health officials. Since May, Cook County has recorded 33 cases of the illness — almost twice as many cases as during the same time last year. The actual number of people infected with the virus is probably much higher than reported because symptoms are usually nonexistent or mild. Across Illinois, there were 69 cases of West Nile virus last year, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
There have been 67 cases across Illinois so far this year.
Health officials encourage people to protect themselves from the virus by draining standing water around their homes, where mosquitoes can breed. They also encourage adults to use insect repellants with 20% to 50% DEET for adults and 20% to 25% DEET for children; to limit time outdoors during dusk and dawn; and to repair tears and holes in screens that might let mosquitoes indoors.
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