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With Illinois reporting its first West Nile virus (WNV)-related death of 2025 in suburban Cook County, Kane County health officials are urging residents to take precautions to prevent infection. The deceased, a resident in their 60s, was confirmed to have WNV as a contributing factor. Apryll Elliott, Kane County Health Department’s Assistant Director for Communicable Disease gave a presentation on West Nile Virus to the Kane County Board’s committee on Public Health.
West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne disease that affects the neurological system and belongs to the Flavivirus genus. While most infections are mild, about 1% can develop severe neuroinvasive illness, which can be fatal or cause lasting neurological effects.
History of West Nile Virus (WNV)
- 1937: First human case recorded in Uganda.
- 1999: First human case reported in North America (New York).
- 2001: WNV identified in two crows in Chicago, Illinois.
- 2002: Human cases reported in all but two counties in Illinois.
In Kane County, WNV cases typically occur in late summer and early fall. From 2015–2024, the majority of human cases were reported in August and September, with fewer cases in July, October, and November.
In 2024, Kane County recorded four cases: one female and three male, evenly split between northern and southern areas of the county.
Kristin Johnson, Environmental Health Supervisor, explained to the committee that the Kane County Health Department’s mosquito control program has several components. These include identifying and eliminating potential breeding sites when possible, conducting surveillance through mosquito trapping and testing, and using larva-dipping equipment to collect water samples to check for mosquito larvae and pupae. The program also utilizes the Rapid Analyte Measurement Platform to test mosquito samples for viruses.
This year, surveillance of dead birds has been suspended due to the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza. Additional elements of the program include complaint investigations, public education, larval control, and adult mosquito control, which is carried out by local municipalities.
How WNV Spreads:
- Primary: Bite from an infected mosquito
- Less common: Blood transfusions, organ transplants, transplacental transmission, or breastfeeding
- Not transmitted person-to-person
Symptoms:
- Mild: Fever, headache, body aches, rash, and swollen lymph nodes (lasting days to weeks)
- Severe (neuroinvasive): Rare (<1%), affecting the central nervous system, with a 10% mortality rate among those severely ill
Prevention Tips:
- Personal: Use insect repellent, wear long sleeves and pants, avoid dusk-to-dawn outdoor activity, use mosquito netting for babies
- Home: Install or repair screens, use air conditioning, remove standing water to eliminate breeding grounds
- Community: Participate in local mosquito control programs
Kane County residents are encouraged to stay vigilant, especially during peak WNV months, and to follow personal and household protection measures. For more information on West Nile virus, visit the Illinois Department of Public Health website.
