This summer is not off to a good start for the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), who just confirmed the state’s first case of West Nile Virus on Tuesday.
Since the usual time for the West Nile Virus to show up in Illinois is in early August, this is almost a full two months earlier than normal. The disease was reportedly contracted by a minor in west-central Illinois late last month. The victim is now recovering.
The West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of what is commonly called a “house mosquito,” the most common type of mosquito in America, after the insect has contracted it from an infected bird. The most common symptoms, if they appear, are fever, nausea, headache, and muscle aches. While rare, some victims may need to be hospitalized.
State officials are urging citizens to do everything they can do to keep the mosquito population under control to reduce the chance of residents becoming infected.