Kane reports 12th West Nile victim

A 67-year-old Carpentersville man is the 12th Kane County resident to be diagnosed with West Nile virus, the Kane County Health Department announced Monday.

Last week, the health department reported that a 44-year-old Huntley woman was stricken with the mosquito-borne illness.

Health department officials said the recent wave of unseasonably warm weather likely contributed to the outbreak.

"We've experienced unusually warm weather this fall, which has extended the West Nile virus season longer than normal," said Paul Kuehnert, the health department's executive director.

Kane County reported just four human cases last year, down from 17 in 2005. There were two in 2004 and none in 2003.

West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird. Most people with the virus have no clinical symptoms of illness, but some may become ill three to 14 days after the bite of an infected mosquito.

Only about two people out of 10 who are bitten by an infected mosquito will experience any illness. Illness from West Nile is usually mild and includes fever, headache and body aches, but it is potentially fatal. People age 50 and older have the highest risk of severe disease.