DuPage County Reports First West Nile Virus Death of 2026; Six Human Cases So Far
The DuPage County Health Department announced on October 6 that the county has recorded its first human death related to West Nile virus in 2026 — an adult resident, whose age, sex and hometown were not released. Six human cases have been reported in the county so far this year; in 2025, the county recorded 14 cases, including one related death.
Mosquito positivity still 13% in late September
About one in five infected people develop symptoms
West Nile virus spreads to people through the bites of mosquitoes that have fed on infected birds. Most infected people have few or no symptoms, but roughly one in five develops fever, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or a rash. People over 60 and those with conditions such as cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease, or organ transplants face a higher risk of serious illness, which can rarely lead to permanent neurological damage, coma, or death. High fever, neck stiffness, muscle weakness, confusion, or tremors warrant immediate medical attention.
The "three Rs" of mosquito defense
Health officials recommend the "three Rs": Reduce — remove standing water and keep doors and windows screened; Repel — use an EPA-registered insect repellent; Report — notify the county health department of areas where water has sat for more than a week, as well as dead birds. The Chicago Department of Public Health also reported a West Nile death in early September, a sign that transmission season across the Chicago area is not over.
No vaccine or specific treatment exists
West Nile is the most common mosquito-borne illness in the United States, and there is currently no vaccine and no specific antiviral treatment — care is supportive. Federal data showed nearly 1,000 cases nationally earlier in the season. For families, the practical takeaway this fall: clear leaves and standing water from the yard and wear repellent outdoors.
