•September 11, 2019•
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has recently reported the first confirmed case of human West Nile Virus (WNV) in Illinois for 2019. The individual, a resident of Chicago, IL, is 70 years old.
While many people anticipate mosquito activity to decline in autumn months, this time of year is actually the most intense for the spread of West Nile Virus (WNV) through mosquito bites. According to the IDPH, there are currently 31 counties in Illinois with confirmed WNV cases. In 2018, IDPH reported 176 human cases of West Nile Virus in Illinois, including 17 deaths.
For most people, symptoms of WNV usually occur three to 14 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. The illness often appears as a mild case of influenza with fever, nausea and muscle aches. In some people, the symptoms of the infection won’t show at all. However, people over the age of 60 or those with a compromised immune system may be at risk for severe illness, including meningitis, encephalitis, coma or even death. All individuals who have been bitten by a mosquito and are ill should seek the attention of a medical provider.     Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.