First human case of West Nile virus confirmed in WI - WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |

MADISON, Wisconsin (WXOW) -- The first case in 2012 of a person getting the West Nile virus is confirmed by state and local officials.

The state Department of Health Services says a Dodge County resident became ill with the mosquito-borne virus, was hospitalized, and has been released.

DHS also confirmed that dead birds found in La Crosse County tested positive for the virus.  The state tests the birds as part of what they describe as an early warning system for West Nile.

Officials say 12 other counties had birds that were positive for West Nile: Barron, Brown, Dane, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Oneida, Pierce, Portage, Rock, Sheboygan, Washington and Winnebago counties.

Residents are urged to protect themselves against mosquito bites.

Last year, three Wisconsin residents became sick from the West Nile virus.  The DHS website states that while 8 in 10 people infected by West Nile never experience symptoms, less than one percent become seriously ill from the virus.