McHenry County Reports Four More Human Cases of West Nile Virus

The McHenry County Department of Health reports four more human cases of West Nile virus.

Not since 2007 has the county seen this many cases of human West Nile virus, according to Debra Quackenbush, community information cooridnator for the MCDH.

Individuals most recently affected by the virus range in age from 61-70, and live in Lake in the Hills, Woodstock and Cary.

Three of those recently affected were hospitalized, with two having the more serious illnesses of encephalitis and meningitis, but all have since returned home, Quackenbush said.

Earlier, MCDH reported a 56-year-old from Cary who was not hospitalized and has since recovered.

A single case of human WNV was reported in each of the last two years in McHenry County during the months of August, September and October. The State Health Department has recorded 185 human cases in 2012, including 7 deaths, as compared to 34 human cases and 3 deaths in 2011, Quackenbush said.

Illness from West Nile virus is usually mild and includes fever, headache and body aches but serious illnesses, such as encephalitis, meningitis and death, are possible. 

People shoul contact their healthcare provider should they exhibit these symptoms. Illness can occur 3-15 days after an infected mosquito bite.  The disease can affect all ages, but persons 50 and older have the highest risk of severe disease, Quackenbush said.

For more information on WNV, visit www.mcdh.info (Environmental Health) or call 815-334-4585.