By WBEZ
Chicago, Ill. – A St. Clair County man in his 60's has been diagnosed with West Nile Virus.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, it's the first human case in Illinois this year.
Melanie Arnold is a spokeswoman for the Department.
She says the Culex mosquito is the most likely species to carry West Nile.
Hot summer temperatures increase Culex Mosquito production, which in turn can affect the proportion of birds infected with the virus and therefore also increase the risk to humans, Arnold said.
Arnold says last year, the first human case of West Nile in Illinois was reported at the end of July.
Illinois had more than 250 reported human cases of West Nile in 2005, which resulted in 12 deaths.