Four West Nile Cases Reported in Cook County in Addition to Piatt County Case

Health officials are urging Illinois residents to guard against mosquitoes after West Nile virus cases increased this week. Two days after the state reported its first human case of the year in Piatt County, four more cases were confirmed in suburban Cook County. The Cook County Department of Public Health says the risk of infection is now high. Residents are being advised to use insect repellent, wear long sleeves and pants when possible, and remove standing water where mosquitoes breed. West Nile can cause fever, headaches, and body aches, though severe illness is more likely in older adults and people with weakened immune systems.