PERRYVILLE — Kevin Russell, a local radio DJ known as "KevyKev," died Thursday afternoon after contracting West Nile Virus, according to his former station.

Perryville-based Classic Rock 93.1 KBDZ announced on social media that Russell, 62, died about five weeks after contracting the virus and developing a fever "he couldn't get rid of."

"His condition deteriorated and it became obvious after a while, he was not going to get better again," the station wrote in a Facebook post .

State and local health authorities did not immediately respond when asked to confirm Russell's diagnosis and cause of death.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services on Thursday warned of a rise in West Nile Virus cases and urged residents to use insect repellant containing DEET and eliminate st

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