Illinois Department of Health reports first West Nile virus death in 2024

LAKE COUNTY, Ill. (KFVS) – The first death of an Illinois resident from West Nile Virus (WNV) in 2024 was reported Tuesday.

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), the Lake County resident was over 80 years old. He began experiencing symptoms of WNV in mid-August and died soon after.

The IDPH also reports nine non-fatal WNV cases confirmed this year.

“Sadly, Illinois is reporting its first death of the year attributed to West Nile virus,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “This death – and the six that occurred in Illinois last year – are a stark reminder that West Nile virus poses a serious risk, especially to the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.”

Of the nine other human cases in 2024, most were reported in Cook County, with others in DuPage, Will, Winnebago and Tazewell counties.

According to IDPH, WNV is transmitted through the bite of a Culex mosquito, colloquially known as the common mosquito, which contracted the virus while feeding on an infected bird.

The most common symptoms of WNV include fever, nausea, headache, and muscle aches. Symptoms can last from a few days to a few weeks.

According to IDPH, four out of five people infected with WNV show no symptoms. However, in rare cases, it can cause serious illness, including brain infections such as meningitis or encephalitis and paralysis or even death.

There is currently no specific treatment or vaccine for WNV, so it is important to minimize the risk of infection.

IDPH encourages the public to combat the bite by adhering to the three “R’s”:

• Reduce the number of mosquitoes and remove outdoor containers that contain water.
• Repel mosquitoes with insect repellent
• Report … areas where water has been standing for more than a week

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