COOK COUNTY, Ill. (WTVO) — A person in their sixties has died from the West Nile virus in suburban Cook County, marking the first death from the virus in Illinois this year.

Health officials report that since May, there have been 79 confirmed cases of West Nile virus in humans across Illinois, surpassing last year's total.

The Illinois Department of Public Health is urging residents to remain vigilant against West Nile virus, particularly in areas where the risk remains high.

Officials recommend using insect repellent, draining standing water where mosquitoes can breed, and reporting stagnant water to local health departments.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WTVO. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news a

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