COOK COUNTY, Ill. - A Cook County resident has become the first person in Illinois to die of West Nile virus this year.

What we know:

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), lab testing determined West Nile virus was a contributing factor in the death of the resident, who was in their 60s.

"The year’s first death from West Nile virus in Illinois is a sobering reminder that mosquito-borne illnesses are still with us," IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra said in a statement. "It’s important to take appropriate precautions as the weather remains warm."

By the numbers:

Since the surveillance period began on Sept. 6, suburban Cook County has recorded 33 cases of West Nile virus, nearly double the number of cases from last year. Of those cases, 22 have been classified as

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