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Well being officers introduced Tuesday {that a} Lake County resident has change into the primary individual this yr in Illinois to die from West Nile virus.
The Illinois Division of Public Well being (IDPH) mentioned the person was once of their 80s and lived in Lake County.
The individual had an onset of signs of West Nile virus in mid-August and died quickly after.
The demise marks the primary Illinois resident of 2024 whose demise was once attributed to West Nile virus.
“Unfortunately, Illinois is reporting our first demise of the yr attributed to West Nile virus,” IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra mentioned.
“This demise – and the six that befell ultimate yr in Illinois – are a stark reminder that West Nile virus poses a major chance, particularly to older other folks and the ones with weakened immune techniques,” Vohra mentioned.
“This is the reason whilst heat climate continues and mosquitoes are breeding, we must all take steps to ‘Combat the Chew.’ Please offer protection to your self and your family members through decreasing exposures, repelling bugs with clothes and repellents, and reporting places at prime chance for generating mosquitoes,” he added.
IDPH additionally reported there were 9 non-fatal circumstances of West Nile virus showed up to now this yr.
The bulk have been reported from Cook dinner County, with others in DuPage, Will, Winnebago and Tazewell counties.
The primary West Nile virus-related demise in Illinois in 2023 additionally had an onset of signs in August. There have been six deaths from West Nile virus showed within the state in 2023 and an extra 119 non-fatal circumstances.
The youngest individual to file a case of West Nile virus in Illinois ultimate yr was once 33 years outdated, whilst the median age was once 67.
West Nile virus is transmitted throughout the chunk of a Culex mosquito, often referred to as an ordinary mosquito, which has picked up the virus through feeding on an inflamed chicken.
Commonplace signs of West Nile virus come with fever, nausea, headache and muscle aches.
Signs might ultimate from a couple of days to a couple of weeks. 4 out of 5 other folks inflamed with West Nile virus is not going to display any signs.
“On the other hand, in uncommon circumstances, serious sickness can happen, together with mind infections reminiscent of meningitis or encephalitis and paralysis and even demise. Folks older than 50 and immunocompromised persons are at upper chance for serious sickness from West Nile virus,” the IDPH mentioned.
There is not any particular remedy for West Nile virus and there may be no vaccine for it. “… it’s significantly essential that individuals reduce their chance of being inflamed through it,” well being officers mentioned.
The IDPH mentioned they inspire the general public to “Combat the Chew” and take steps to stop West Nile virus through practising the 3 “R’s” — scale back, repel and file.
Citizens are beneficial to make sure their doorways and home windows have tight-fitting monitors and do away with assets of status water the place mosquitoes can breed.
Folks must additionally put on footwear and socks, lengthy pants and long-sleeved shirts when outdoor whilst making use of an EPA-registered insect repellent that comprises DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR 3535.
Citizens must file places the place they see water sitting stagnant for greater than per week which might produce mosquitoes. The native well being division or town executive might be able to upload larvicide to the water, which can kill any mosquito larvae.
Closing yr, 67 counties in Illinois reported certain West Nile virus mosquitoes, birds, people and horses.
There were 2,113 certain mosquito batches, 29 certain birds and one certain horse from 57 counties in Illinois to this point this yr.
