Illinois Flags 1st 2026 West Nile Mosquito Batches in Cook County as 2 Rabid Bats Test Positive
Updated
Updated · the X Radio · May 14
Illinois Flags 1st 2026 West Nile Mosquito Batches in Cook County as 2 Rabid Bats Test Positive
7 articles · Updated · the X Radio · May 14
Cook County produced Illinois' first West Nile-positive mosquito batches of 2026, prompting the state health department to warn residents as warmer weather raises exposure to mosquito-, tick- and animal-borne disease.
No human West Nile cases have been reported yet this year, but Illinois logged 150 cases and 10 deaths in 2025; older adults and people with weakened immune systems face the highest risk of severe illness.
IDPH urged residents to "reduce, repel and report" by clearing standing water, using EPA-registered insect repellents and notifying local authorities about stagnant water that could breed mosquitoes.
The agency also highlighted tick risks after Illinois recorded its first confirmed Powassan virus case last year, and said 2 bats in 2026 have tested positive for rabies in Whiteside and Sangamon counties.
With no treatment available, is Illinois ready for the brain-damaging Powassan virus being pushed north by climate change?
Why did a top-rated state for health preparedness allow its critical rabies surveillance system to lapse amid rising threats?
After a 30-year absence, canine rabies is back in Illinois. Are standard pet vaccinations still enough protection?