Will County confirms West Nile-positive mosquito sample

JOLIET, Ill. (WLS) -- A mosquito sample carrying the West Nile virus was found in Joliet, marking Will County's first confirmed non-human case of the year, health officials said.

The sample was collected July 1, and is one of 85 samples collected by Will County health officials from 14 monitoring facilities, officials said. Will is one of at least nine counties that have found West Nile-positive birds or mosquitoes.

No human cases of the virus have been reported in Illinois, though the state reported 117 human cases and 11 fatalities from West Nile in 2013. The virus is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito that has bitten an infected bird.