WREX.com – Rockford’s News LeaderIllinois reports first human case of West Nile virus

Illinois reports first human case of West Nile virus

UNDATED (WREX) - Illinois health officials have confirmed the state's first human case of the West Nile virus this season.

The case is a person in their 50's in St. Clair County.

Because of cooler than normal temperatures the number of West Nile cases and reports are down. So far this year 24 counties have reported mosquito batches or birds testing positive for West Nile virus.

"We've seen cooler temperatures this summer and not as much West Nile virus activity compared to warmer summers.  However, this first human case of West Nile virus in Illinois should remind people that the threat is still there," said Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Damon T. Arnold.

Last year there were 20 human cases of the West Nile virus in Illinois. Only one of those was fatal.

Information below from press release:

The best way to prevent West Nile disease or any other mosquito-borne illness is to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and to take personal precautions to avoid mosquito bites.  Precautions include:

• Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are most active, especially between dusk and dawn.
• When outdoors, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, and apply 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.
• 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, especially at night.
• Eliminate all sources of standing water that can support mosquito breeding, including water in bird baths, ponds, flowerpots, wading pools, old tires and any other receptacles. In communities where there are organized mosquito control programs, contact your municipal government to report areas of stagnant water in roadside ditches, flooded yards and similar locations that may produce mosquitoes.