A third human case of West Nile virus in Illinois has been reported in DuPage County. According to the DuPage County Health Department, the individual is a Glen Ellyn resident in their 50s and developed symptoms in mid-July.
This case brings the total number of reported human cases in Illinois to at least three, following similar reports in Lake County in July. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) first confirmed a person with West Nile virus complications in Southern Illinois in June.
Symptoms of West Nile virus include fever, flu-like symptoms, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. Severe illness can occur in about one in 150 people, particularly those over age 55 or with weakened immune systems.
To prevent the spread of the virus, residents are advised to take precautions against mosquito bites. This includes reducing the number of mosquitoes, removing standing water around homes, using insect repellent, and reporting areas where water sits for more than a week. There is no treatment for West Nile virus; prevention through mosquito control remains the best approach.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/third-human-case-west-nile-virus-illinois-dupage-county