First Human Case Of West Nile Virus Found

(Springfield, IL) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health says the first human case of West Nile Virus for this year has been reported. A woman in the Chicago area in her 70s that became ill in July. Last year there were 117 human cases of West Nile Virus, but IDPH spokeswoman Melaney Arnold says the weather has been on our side this year. She says the mosquitoes that carry don't breed as much in cooler, wetter weather. She says you should still take precautions at dusk and dawn to avoid mosquito bites since they spread the disease. Arnold says insect repellents with DEET or picaridin work the best. So far this year, West Nile Virus has been found in birds or mosquitoes in 32 Illinois counties and Arnold says they expect to see more human cases this year.