KENOSHA, Wis. — Kenosha County health officials announced Wednesday, October 28, that a county resident has tested positive for West Nile virus, marking the county’s first reported human case of 2026. Officials are urging residents to continue protecting themselves against mosquito bites into the fall, until a hard frost ends mosquito activity.
The county’s announcement did not identify the resident or disclose the person’s age, community, condition, or whether hospitalization was required. The last reported human case in Kenosha County was in 2024, according to the Division of Public Health.
Other human cases have been reported elsewhere in Wisconsin this year, and the virus has also been detected in mosquitoes and animals in other parts of the state. Although West Nile illness is most common in Wisconsin during August and September, county officials said the risk remains whenever mosquitoes are active.
West Nile virus spreads through the bite of an infected mosquito, which acquires the virus by feeding on an infected bird. According to the county’s release, it does not spread directly from person to person or through direct contact between animals and people.
Most infected people do not become sick, Kenosha County Health Officer Richard Ferrari Traner said in the release. Those who develop symptoms generally experience fever, headache, muscle aches, rash, and fatigue.
Fewer than 1% of infected people develop serious illness, which can include high fever, muscle weakness, stiff neck, disorientation, tremors, paralysis, or coma. Older adults and people with compromised immune systems face a greater risk of severe illness that can be fatal, and Ferrari Traner urged anyone who suspects West Nile illness to contact a health care provider.
To reduce exposure, county officials recommend using insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535, and wearing loose-fitting long sleeves and pants outdoors. Residents should also consider rescheduling activities during evening and early morning hours, when mosquitoes that spread West Nile virus are most active.
Clothing can be treated with permethrin before heading outdoors, but the product should not be applied directly to skin. Residents should also check that window and door screens fit tightly and are free of holes.
Health officials are encouraging residents to eliminate standing water in flowerpots, buckets, discarded tires, gutters, and other places where mosquitoes can breed. Birdbath and pet-dish water should be changed at least every three days, while unused kiddie pools, wheelbarrows, and small boats should be turned over to prevent water from collecting.
Mosquitoes typically stop being active after a hard frost, which the county describes as temperatures below 28 degrees for at least four consecutive hours. Until then, officials say residents should continue taking precautions.
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