Two more cases of West Nile Virus have been confirmed in Will County -- one in Crest Hill and the other in Bolingbrook.

The Crest Hill victim is a man in his late 60s who was hospitalized for four days in late August after complaining of head aches, fever, rash, back pain, confusion, and an altered mental state, according to a news release from the Will County Health Department in Joliet. His illness ws classified as West Nile Virus encephalitis.

The Bolingbrook case, a woman in her mid-50s was hospitalized Sept. 1 for five days after reporting she had a fever, headaches, vomiting and visual problems, the release said. Her case was classified as West Nile Virus fever.

A batch of mosquitoes in Minooka tested positive for West Nile Virus on Aug. 31. There have been no human cases reported in Minooka or Channahon.

Will County’s first human WNV confirmation this year was a Romeoville woman in her 40s who was hospitalized for eight days starting Aug. 7.

As of Sept. 17, 95 Illinois residents had been confirmed as WNV-positive. The 2012 Illinois case count represents an increase of more than 179 percent over 2011 levels, the release said.

Nationally, human WNV cases are up more than 270 percent over 2011 levels, and fatalities have increased by more than 174 percent. Six states (including Michigan), have accounted for nearly 67 percent of the national case count, the release said.

Moderating temperatures and increased precipitation will help to reduce local WNV activity levels, but the health department officials remind area residents that mosquito-borne activity remains a threat until the first hard frost.

Insect repellent containing DEET, or other chemical compounds that deter mosquitoes, are still highly recommended. Mosquitoes that typically carry WNV are a threat any time, but are most active from dusk to early dawn.

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