West Nile cases now official in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD - State health officials say a Kane County woman in her 20s who fell ill in late July is Illinois' first official human case of West Nile virus this year. The Illinois Department of Health says the woman could have contracted the virus outside the state because she recently traveled. Kane County is one of 12 Illinois counties, including Whiteside, that have reported mosquitoes, birds or horses with the virus this year. While officially the first case in the eyes of the state, the Kane County woman is not the only reported case of the virus. Last month, a Sterling man showed symptoms of West Nile and went to an out-of-town hospital to be tested. Whiteside County Health Department Public Health administrator Beth Fiorini said a preliminary blood test showed he had a low-positive, or a trace amount, of the virus. A second test was conducted, but the results did not meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's criteria for the disease, and were not included in the state report, Fiorini added. Meanwhile, Lee County has reported it's first case of the virus this year found in a local bird. On Tuesday, the department confirmed that a cardinal found Aug. 4 in Dixon tested positive for the virus. On Aug. 6, two mosquito batches found in Amboy also tested positive for West Nile. Last year saw 101 human cases of the virus in Illinois, including four deaths. West Nile is transmitted by mosquitoes that pick up the infection from birds. Symptoms include fever, headache and body aches. Health officials suggest avoiding mosquito bites by wearing insect repellent and making sure doors and windows are screened. Reporter Tara Becker and the Associated Press contributed to this report.