Kendall County Health Department officials are warning residents to protect themselves after local mosquito samples collected this week in both Plano and Yorkville tested positive for West Nile virus.

The first human case of West Nile virus in Kendall County this year was detected earlier this summer. On Thursday, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported the first human case of West Nile virus in Will County.

A 51-year-old person from Will County tested positve for West Nile virus after developing symptoms in the second week of August, according to the IDPH. The individual did not require hospitalization and is recovering, IDPH officials said.

IDPH has reported that 24 human cases of West Nile virus have been detected in Illinois so far this year. In addition to the case in Will County, 15 were reported in Cook County, two were reported in DuPage County, while Kane, Kendall, Livingston, Madison, Piatt and Shelby counties each all reported one positive case.

Two deaths have been linked to the virus.

West Nile virus is most commonly spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. Symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea or rash.

Officials said the best way to prevent West Nile virus or any other mosquito-borne illness is to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and to take personal precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

The Kendall County Health Department recommends taking the following precautions:

Repellent: Use U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellentsClothing: Wear long sleeves and loose-fitting, light-colored pantsLimit time outdoors: Limit outdoor activities during peak mosquito feeding times at dawn and duskDrain standing water: Empty standing water around your home weekly to eliminate breeding sites.

Additional information on West Nile virus and West Nile virus surveillance can be obtained by calling the Environmental Health Unit at the Kendall County Health Department at 630- 553-9100, or by visiting the Kendall County Health Department’s West Nile Virus & Mosquitoes webpage at kendallhealth.org/departments/environmental-health-services/mosquitos.