The number of human cases of West Nile virus in nearby Will County rose to six on Thursday, with confirmed cases reported in Homer Glen, Plainfield and Joliet.

The Plainfield woman, who is in her early 20s, was diagnosed with West Nile virus (WNV) after initially complaining of fatigue, according to a Will County Health Department press release. The woman was not hospitalized.

On Sept. 12, the Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) reported the first death related to West Nile virus, which occurred in the county’s southern district.

As of Sept. 19, CCDPH officials have reported one death, 71 human cases, seven birds with WNV  and five birds pending results throughout suburban Cook County. The numbers do not include Chicago, Evanston, Skokie, Stickney Township or Oak Park, as the communities have their own state-certified local public health departments.

Another recent case was reported in nearby Homer Glen in Will County, where a woman in her early 60s was hospitalized Sept. 8, more than a week after reporting fever, muscle pain, headaches and a rash. Her illness was listed as West Nile fever.

Human cases of West Nile have also been confirmed in the Will County communities of Bolingbrook, Romeoville and Crest Hill. Five of the county’s six cases were confirmed this week.

While there have been no reported fatalities in Will County, nearby DuPage County has had 19 confirmed human cases and two fatalities.

Lombard Village President Bill Mueller, 76, became the first West Nile fatality in DuPage County Saturday, Aug. 18. He had been battling cancer since 2008, and had been hospitalized since Aug. 5. The second occurred when another DuPage County resident died earlier this month.

As of Thursday afternoon, 118 human WNV infections had been reported statewide, including 26 since Monday. The human case count in the U.S. is now at nearly 3,200, with at least 134 fatalities, health officials said.

“We are seeing fewer hot, dry days but the virus continues to circulate and residents still need to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites,” said CCDPH interim chief operating officer, Sandra Martell, RN, DNP. “Residents should continue to use mosquito repellant with DEET anytime they have to be outside and always wear light, loose fitting clothing when outdoors between dusk and dawn. These two steps of personal protection and removing standing water around your home continue to be the best defense against West Nile virus.”

For more information on the disease, visit the CDC's West Nile fact sheet or the Cook County Department of Public Health.

Read more: 

• First West Nile Virus Death in Cook County
  
• Bolingbrook Woman Diagnosed with West Nile Virus
• Will County's First Human Case of West Nile Reported in Romeoville
• West Nile Virus Cases Continue to Rise in DuPage County
• Cases of West Nile Virus in Chicago's Suburbs
• CDC Calls West Nile Outbreak 'Largest Ever;' No Human Cases in Will County
• Downers Grove Woman Diagnosed with West Nile Virus
• More West Nile Mosquitoes Found in Will County

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