First human cases of West Nile reported in DuPage, Kane counties

The first human cases of West Nile virus in 2015 have been reported in west suburban DuPage and Kane counties.

A Carol Stream woman in her 50s was diagnosed with the virus but was not hospitalized, according to a statement from the DuPage County Health Department. She was briefly ill and her symptoms have been resolved.

In Kane County, a 51-year-old St. Charles woman also became ill last month with the virus, but was not hospitalized and has since recovered, according to a statement from the Kane County Health Department.

West Nile is transmitted to people through mosquito bites, but most people have no symptoms.

The first reported Chicago-area case of West Nile virus was a 50-year-old Skokie woman who was in the hospital for five days, but has since recovered.

One West Nile fatality has been reported in the area in 2015. A south suburban man who was in his 90s died Aug. 27.

Forty-four human cases of West Nile were reported in Illinois in 2014, including four deaths, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Residents are reminded to remove standing water from around homes, repel mosquitoes when outdoors around dusk and dawn, and to repair or replace torn screens on doors and windows.