Health officials in Chicago have confirmed the city’s first human cases of West Nile Virus, as well as the city’s first death of the year from the illness.
According to the Chicago Department of Public Health, two cases were reported in recent days in the city, with one of the patients dying as a result of the illness.
“2026 has seen the rainiest summer in Chicago in years, giving mosquitoes ample opportunities to breed,” said CDPH Commissioner Garth Walker, MD, MPH. “The best way to protect yourself from West Nile virus is to avoid mosquito bites and take measures to stop them from breeding around your home.”
According to the CDC, West Nile is the most common mosquito-borne illness in the United States. The illness is rarely transmitted between humans, according to officials, and while most individuals who contract the virus show no symptoms, approximately 1-in-5 will develop a fever and flu-like symptoms, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Older residents and those with compromised immune systems can develop more severe illness, with symptoms typically starting between two-to-six days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.
“We encourage everyone to ‘Fight the Bite’ and take the appropriate precautions against mosquito bites,” IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra said in a statement.
Residents are urged to protect themselves by:
-Wearing protective clothing
-Using EPA-approved insect repellant
-Making sure doors and screens are intact to keep mosquitoes out of homes.
-Clear areas of standing water
-Report stagnant water in public places to authorities
More information on West Nile cases in Illinois can be found on the IDPH’s website.
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