A crow collected in Batavia by the Kane County Health Department has tested positive for the West Nile Virus.

It is the first case of West Nile in Kane County this year.

While there have not been any reported cases in people so far, hot summer weather provides the perfect conditions for the Culex mosquito, which carries the disease, Health Department officials noted.

“As this new result shows, this is the time of the year when we can expect to begin seeing more evidence of West Nile Virus, including human cases,” said Paul Kuehnert, executive director of the Health Department. “We urge our residents to be mindful of the risks and take precautions to minimize them.”

Last year, Kane County saw 13 human cases of West Nile virus. There were four cases in 2006, 17 in 2005, two in 2004, none in 2003 and nine in 2002.

West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird. Most people with the virus have no clinical symptoms of illness, but some may become ill three to 14 days after the bite.

Only two people out of 10 who are bitten by an infected mosquito will experience any illness. Illness from West Nile is usually mild and includes fever, headache and body aches, but serious illness, such as encephalitis and meningitis, and death are possible. People older than 50 years of age have the highest risk of severe disease.

The best way to prevent West Nile disease 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 best way to prevent acquiring West Nile is to avoid mosquito bites.

Precautions include:

* Avoid being outdoors between dusk and dawn.

* When outdoors, apply insect repellent that includes DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus, according to label instructions. Consult a physician before using repellents on infants.

* Discard old tires, buckets, drums or any water-holding containers.

* Keep roof gutters and downspouts clear of debris.

* Change the water in birdbaths and plant urns at least once a week.

Information about West Nile virus can be found at www.kanehealth.com.