Politics & Government

First Joliet Case of West Nile Virus Reported

The victim is described as a man in his early 50s who was hospitalized for a week, according to the Will County Health Department.

Three more cases of West Nile Virus have been confirmed in Will County, including the first affecting a Joliet resident.

New cases were also reported in Plainfield and Homer Glen, according to a notice issued by the Will County Health Department. That brings the total number in Will County to six, five of which were confirmed this week.

The Joliet victim is a man in his early 50s who was hospitalized Aug. 31, a day after reporting fever, headaches, dizziness, depression, and an altered mental state, the health department said. He was discharged from hospital Sept. 7; his illness was listed as West Nile encephalitis.

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A Homer Glen woman in her early 60s was hospitalized Sept. 8, more than a week after reporting fever, muscle pain, headaches, and a rash. Her illness is listed as West Nile fever.

A Plainfield woman in her early 20s was confirmed WNV-positive after initially reporting fatigue, according to the health department's release. She was not hospitalized.

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Other Will County WNV infections have been confirmed from Bolingbrook, Romeoville, and Crest Hill. Five of the local cases have been confirmed this week.

Through noon Thursday, 118 human WNV infections had been reported statewide, including 26 since Monday. The U.S. human case count now stands at nearly 3,200, including at least 134 fatalities.

Mosquitoes that typically carry West Nile Virus are most active from dusk to dawn. The health department urges area residents to protect themselves against mosquito bites by using insect repellent and wearing long sleeves, pants, shoes and socks when going outdoors.

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