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player ready...Central Illinois is reporting the state’s first confirmed human case of West Nile virus this year.
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced Wednesday that a resident of Piatt County, near Champaign, tested positive for the virus. There have also been three other probable human cases in northern Illinois, officials said.
Though this marks the first confirmed human case of 2026, West Nile virus has been observed in mosquito batches and other animals such as horses or birds in 50 counties across the state so far this calendar year.
The IDPH regularly tests batches of mosquitoes for West Nile and other mosquito-borne illnesses, alongside testing sick horses and humans with West Nile virus-like symptoms. Last year, the virus was found in 73 of Illinois’ 102 counties.
People can contract West Nile virus from infected mosquito bites. Most people who are infected 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.
“For many Illinois residents, summer means lots of time spent outdoors enjoying everything our state has to offer,” IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra said in a statement. “Before heading outside, it’s important to take steps to protect yourself and loved ones from mosquito bites and the illnesses they can spread.”
There were 150 human cases of West Nile in Illinois last year, with 10 deaths linked to the virus.
As of last week, the risk of West Nile in suburban Cook County was increasing, according to the Cook County Department of Public Health.
The IDPH recommends that Illinois residents reduce their risk of contracting the disease by avoiding mosquito bites. This can be done through using EPA-registered mosquito repellents, especially those containing DEET, and by making sure that open doors and windows have screens. Officials also recommend dumping stagnant water that’s been standing for a week or more, as mosquitoes require standing water to reproduce.