Aurora woman first Illinoisan with West Nile this year

A 28-year-old Aurora woman is the first state resident diagnosed with West Nile virus this year, health officials said Monday.

The woman became ill in late July but was not hospitalized, according to the Kane County Health Department.

"Although this is our first case of 2008, we know that conditions have been favorable for West Nile virus," Paul Kuehnert, the department's executive director, said in a statement this afternoon.

Of 30 birds tested for West Nile virus this year in Kane County, only one was carrying it; the crow was collected in July in Batavia, officials said. The health department also has tested 184 batches of mosquitoes - all with negative results.

Kane County saw 13 human cases of the virus in 2007, four in 2006, 17 in 2005 and two in 2004.

The potentially fatal virus is transmitted by mosquitoes that acquired it by feeding on an infested bird. Health officials say, on average, only two of every 10 humans bitten by an infected mosquito experience any illness or symptoms, which include fever, headache and body ache. People older than 50 have the highest risk of developing more serious illnesses, such as encephalitis and meningitis.

"We recommend that our residents take precautions when going outside at dawn or dusk," Kuehnert said in the statement. "Wear long sleeves, insect repellent and make sure there are no sources of standing water on your property."

Additional information about West Nile virus is available at www.kanehealth.com. The Illinois Department of Public Health also maintains a West Nile hotline at (866) 369-9710 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.