Chicago records first West Nile virus fatality of 2026 as Illinois reports multiple cases

The Chicago Department of Public Health said a Chicago resident died from West Nile virus, marking the city’s first fatality linked to the mosquito-borne illness this year. Illinois health officials have identified several other cases across the state.

CDPH Commissioner Garth Walker attributed the rise in mosquito activity to a particularly wet summer, noting that "the best way to protect yourself from West Nile virus is to avoid mosquito bites and take measures to stop them from breeding around your home." The department has sprayed insecticide in neighborhoods including Beverly, Burnside, Chatham, East Garfield Park, the Lower West Side, Morgan Park, the Near West Side, North Lawndale, O'Hare, Pullman, Roseland, South Deering, Washington Heights, West Lawn and West Pullman.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describe West Nile virus as usually causing mild or no symptoms, but in about 20-25% of symptomatic cases it can resemble flu with fever, headache and body aches. Dr. Tyler Evans, an infectious-diseases specialist, warned that severe neuroinvasive disease can lead to meningitis, encephalitis, paralysis or death, especially in people over 50 or those with weakened immune systems. He advised that individuals with serious symptoms such as severe headache, stiff neck, confusion or vision loss should seek emergency care promptly.

There is no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for West Nile virus; care is supportive. Prevention measures emphasized include using insect repellent containing at least 30% DEET, wearing long-sleeved clothing, avoiding outdoor activity at dusk, and eliminating standing water around homes.

According to preliminary CDC data as of Sept. 1, the United States has recorded 407 human West Nile cases this year, including 285 neuroinvasive infections and 23 deaths, with most cases reported in August and September.