An Illinois resident became “seriously ill” after being infected with Powassan, a tick-borne illness that has never been detected in the state before, the state health department said.

Health officials are investigating whether the person caught the virus in Illinois and are testing ticks for Powassan and other infections in areas of the state where the resident had been before their illness.

Meanwhile, the Illinois Department of Public Health is urging residents to take precautions against tick bites, like wearing preventive clothing and checking themselves, their children and pets for ticks after spending time outdoors.

“With warm weather still prevalent, tick-borne diseases remain a potential threat here in Illinois,” IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra said in a Monday news release. “It’

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