Chicago officials report city's first West Nile death of 2026

The Chicago Department of Public Health announced the city's first West Nile death of 2026. This fatality is one of two human cases reported in the city this year. Additionally, the Illinois Department of Public Health confirmed several other WNV cases across the state. CDPH Commissioner Garth Walker, MD, attributed the increase in mosquito breeding opportunities to the fact that 2026 has experienced the rainiest summer in Chicago in several years.