West Nile Virus Death Reported in Kane

A 64-year-old Elgin man with West Nile Virus died last week, marking the first human death because of the virus in Kane County this year, according to a Kane County Health Department press release. 

In total, West Nile Virus is listed as the cause for four deaths in Kane County since 2002, according to the news release. 

"This summer has been hot and dry, the perfect combination for the Culex mosquito, the species that is known to carry the virus," according to the news release. "It is likely we will see more activity before the season is over."

So far this year, have been reported to the CDC in United States. In Illinois, 21 WNV cases were reported as of Aug. 21. 

“The 1,118 cases reported thus far in 2012 is the cases reported to CDC through the third week in August since West Nile virus was first detected in the United States in 1999,” the CDC reported.

One WNV case was reported in 2011 in Kane county and five cases were reported in 2010 while no cases were reported in 2009. Among the busiest years for WNV reports in Kane was 2007 when 13 cases were reported and 2005 when 17 cases were reported. 

About West Nile Virus 

West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird.

Most people with the virus have no clinical symptoms of illness, but some may become ill three to 14 days after the bite of an infected mosquito.

Only about two persons out of 10 who are bitten by an infected mosquito will experience any illness. Illness from West Nile is usually mild and includes fever, headache and body aches, but serious illness, such as encephalitis and meningitis, and death are possible.

Persons older than 50 years of age have the highest risk of severe disease.

The Kane County Health Department has more information on the virus.

West Nile Virus Precautions, Tips to Prevent WNV 

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. Use prevention methods whenever mosquitoes are present.
• When outdoors, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, and apply insect repellent that includes DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus 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.
• Change water in birdbaths weekly. Properly maintain wading pools and stock ornamental ponds with fish. Cover rain barrels with 16-mesh wire screen. 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.

Source: Kane County Health Department