Two Aurora residents have been confirmed to have West Nile virus, the Kane County Health Department said on Thursday.
Both people developed the more serious, neuroinvasive form of the virus and had to be hospitalized, per the health department.
The two recently reported human cases are Kane County’s first so far in 2026, according to Kane County Health Department Executive Director Michael Isaacson.
Illinois’ first human case in 2026 was reported late last month out of Piatt County, near Champaign. The state has seen around a dozen cases so far this year, according to figures from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Last year, 150 human cases were reported in Illinois, including five in Kane County. Ten deaths statewide were linked to the virus in 2025.
Earlier this week, a person in Chicago died from West Nile virus, the state’s first death from the illness so far this year.
West Nile virus is commonly spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird, per the Illinois Department of Public Health. In general, people do not usually spread the virus.
While most people do not develop symptoms, around one in five may experience fever, headache, body aches, joint pain or other potentially serious complications, the state’s department of public health says. In rare cases, West Nile virus can lead to severe illness such as paralysis, meningitis or encephalitis or death. People older than 60 and those with weakened immune systems are at the highest risk for severe illness.
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In light of the two cases in Kane County, Isaacson is urging the community to keep mosquito bite prevention in mind throughout the remainder of the mosquito season. As there is no specific treatment or vaccine for West Nile virus in humans, prevention is the most effective way to reduce the risk of infection, the county health department said in a news release.
Some steps individuals can take to prevent mosquito bites, per the health department, include using an EPA-registered insect repellant; wearing protective clothing, particularly from dusk to dawn when mosquitoes are most active; dumping standing water from places like flowerpots, buckets, birdbaths, children’s pools and pet dishes at least once a week; ensuring doors and windows have tight-fitting screens without holes or tears; and keeping grass and weeds trimmed.
The county health department says it’s continuing to conduct ongoing mosquito surveillance and is working with local partners to monitor and reduce the risk of the virus in the community.