BOURBONNAIS – Local Health Department officials have discovered West Nile Virus among a batch of mosquitoes collected in a trap in Bourbonnais.
The Kankakee Health Department reported the findings this week.
The collection of West Nile is the first confirmed found among a batch collection in Kankakee County this year. There have now been 17 counties to find West Nile among mosquitoes in Illinois.
Only one human case has been confirmed among a woman in Dupage County, that announced Wednesday by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). Last year, 28 cases of West Nile were found in Illinois among residents, including one death.
Health officials have warned symptoms of West Nile Virus could be confused with that of COVID-19. Common symptoms include cough, fever, nausea, headache and muscle aches. Health officials recommend wearing long pants and sleeves along with the use of insect repellent to take steps against the disease, transmitted by mosquitoes.