Westmont woman dies of West Nile virus

A Westmont woman in her 70s has died from West Nile virus, the DuPage County Health Department confirmed Tuesday.

The woman is the second person to die this year of West Nile illness in Illinois.

A Northbrook man in his 60s, who had underlying health conditions, was diagnosed with West Nile virus in August and died earlier this month.

Despite the two deaths, however, human cases of the mosquito-borne virus are down significantly compared to the previous season, authorities said.

So far, the Illinois Department of Public Health is reporting 10 human cases of West Nile virus this year in addition to the DuPage County case.

Last year, there were 61 cases and four deaths in Illinois. The DuPage County toll was 17 cases and two deaths.

The mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus prefer hot, dry weather, so the recent cool spell will help reduce the threat, health officials say. The first frost will dramatically cut down on the number of mosquitoes.

Four out of five people infected with West Nile virus don’t show any symptoms, but in rare cases, the virus can cause serious illness or death. People older than 50 or who have chronic medical conditions such as heart disease or cancer are at higher risk for severe illness.

The DuPage County Health Department urges residents to continue to use mosquito repellent, limit time outdoors at dawn and dusk, keep gutters free of debris and in good repair and eliminate standing water that can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.