Burlington man, 46, has West Nile virus

A 46-year-old Burlington man has contracted West Nile virus, Kane County Health Department officials announced Friday.

It was the first reported human case in Kane County so far this year, but more are expected.

"With the kind of conditions we've seen this summer, this is the time of year when we can expect to see people with West Nile virus," said Paul Kuehnert, health department executive director.

According to a news release, the onset of the virus came in mid-August for the Burlington man.

This year's first human case in Illinois was reported earlier this week in DuPage County, although birds and/or mosquitoes carrying the virus have been found in 25 counties across the state.

In Kane County, officials said mosquitoes collected in or around Aurora, Batavia, Huntley, Montgomery and South Elgin have tested positive - a jump from last year's unusually cool summer, which produced only four batches of mosquitoes carrying West Nile.

"Our surveillance has found mosquitoes infected with the virus in many parts of our county," Kuehnert said. "And that tells us we need to take steps to protect ourselves and our families."

Officials said the best way to avoid contracting West Nile is to reduce the number of mosquitoes in and around your home by repairing window screens, changing birdbath water weekly and covering pools of water.

It also helps to avoid the outdoors between dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active, and to wear plenty of clothes or insect repellent when outside.

For more information, visit kanehealth.com or call the Illinois Department of Public Health's West Nile virus Hotline at (866) 369-9710 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.