Kane County Reports 11th West Nile Case This Year

The Kane County Health Department on Wednesday reported another human case of West Nile Virus, bringing the total so far this season to 11.

A 50-year-old man from South Elgin who contracted the virus was hospitalized and has since been discharged.

This is the most West Nile cases Kane County has had since 2007. The State Health Department has recorded 211 cases statewide this year, including nine deaths. Last year there were 34 cases and three deaths.

Other cases reported year include:

• A 71-year-old man from Aurora
• A 61-year-old Geneva woman
• A 70-year-old Aurora man
• A 16-year-old Batavia girl
• A 64-year-old Elgin man, who died in August
• A 50-year-old St. Charles man
• A 59-year-old Geneva man
• A 61-year-old Elgin man
• A 67-year-old Elgin man
• An 85-year-old Elgin man

With the onset of colder weather, the Health Department has stopped West Nile monitoring activities, but will continue to report any new cases once a week on Wednesdays.

View an interactive map of West Nile virus cases in the Chicago suburbs.

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.

Additional information about West Nile virus can be found on the Kane County Health Department’s Web site at www.kanehealth.com/west_nile.htm or the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Web site at www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/wnv.htm. People also can call the IDPH West Nile Virus Hotline at (866) 369-9710 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In active partnership with our community, the Kane County Health Department improves the quality of life and well-being of all residents by developing and implementing local policies, systems, and services that protect and promote health, and prevent disease, injury and disability.

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West Nile Case Brings Kane County Total to 10