Kane Co. sees second human case of West Nile

After going a full year with no human cases of West Nile virus, Kane County reported its second human infection of 2010 Monday.

Kane County Health Department officials confirmed a 78-year-old man from Aurora was recently diagnosed with West Nile. A 46-year-old Burlington man was diagnosed with the virus earlier this month.

The infections follow the discovery of mosquito batches testing positive for West Nile in Aurora, Carpentersville, Big Rock, Elgin and at Fermilab.

Paul Kuehnert, executive director of the county's health department, said even with the recent cool nights, this is the time of year when humans were infected with West Nile in the past.

"We typically see the end of West Nile virus after the first hard frosts," Kuehnert said in a written statement. "Until then, people should continue to protect themselves against mosquito bites."

Illinois has had 18 human cases of West Nile this year, including one death. The virus has been found in 29 counties in Illinois so far in 2010.