CHICAGO – A human case of West Nile Virus has been reported in Woodford County.
That’s according to the Illinois Department of Public Health, who confirmed no other details.
The case is one of twelve in humans so far this year in the state – one of which in the Chicagoland area has proven fatal.
The state says the fatality was a man in his 90’s who lived in suburban Cook County and contracted the virus, presumably from an infected mosquito, in early August, and died soon after.
West Nile virus symptoms in humans include fever, nausea, headache and muscle aches. They can last from a few days to a few weeks.
The early part of August is also when the first fatality in the state from West Nile happened last year.
Mosquito pools in the Tri-Counties have also tested positive, and get the virus from infected birds.
TIPS TO REDUCE EXPOSURE TO WEST NILE VIRUS
- 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. The CDC does not recommend use of products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol on children under 3 years old. Consult a physician before using repellents on children under 3.
- 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. (Source: Illinois Department of Public Health)
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