A person in DuPage County has died of West Nile virus, health officials said.
According to a news release from the county’s health department, the death is the first in DuPage this year caused by West Nile virus.
The Illinois Department of Health said there have been four West Nile virus deaths in Illinois in 2018.
The person who died in DuPage County was over the age of 65, the county health department said. Other information on the gender and hometown of the person was not available. The person became ill in early September, officials said.
“The report of a death is a sad reminder that it’s still important to protect yourself, protect your family against West Nile virus,” Health Department Executive Director Karen Ayala said in the release.
There have been 14 human cases of the virus in DuPage in 2018, according to the release. There were six cases last year and 10 in 2016. The last West Nile-related death in DuPage was in 2014.
Statewide, there have been 79 human cases this year, according to the state department of health.
The DuPage County Health Department’s Personal Protection Index remains at its highest level because of the number of mosquito batches testing positive for the virus, officials said.
Health officials urged taking precautions to prevent being infected. People should drain areas with standing water, keep pet dishes clean, use repellent with DEET and wear long pants, long sleeves and closed-toe shoes.
Most people infected with the virus do not develop any symptoms, but about 1 in 5 of those who are infected will develop symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea or rash, according to the news release.
People over the age of 60 and those with medical conditions such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease and organ transplants are at greater risk for serious illness.
An earlier online version incorrectly said the person who died in DuPage County was 65.
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