Feeding the ducks is special Grandma time for Verna Dhyanchand. But so the mosquitoes don't feed on her four-year-old grandson...

"I always carry the bug spray. It's to protect ourselves a lot of disease comes through mosquitoes," she says.

Illinois' first case of West Nile Virus this year was reported in Winnebago County. Two dead crows were found infected with the disease in the 61107 zip code. That's on Rockford's east side.

"Birds, that's the reservoir for this and it's spread by infected mosquitoes. Mosquitoes will do a blood meal from the bird and become infected and spread that to the people," says George Beranek, Director of Medical Education at Rockford Health System.

If you're going to be outside especially near water or big trees, experts advice we of course use bug spray. And it must have DEET in it. But it can only be used by those older than two months.

One out of every five people bit by an infected mosquito experience flu like symptoms. And one out of every 150 can suffer encephalitis, neurological complications and even death. The young and elderly are at most risk. Which is why Dhyanchand always keeps a bug spray bottle in her bag.

The first human case of West Nile doesn't typically occur till after July. Last year, an Ogle County man died from the disease. A total of four Illinois residents were killed last year and 101 were infected with the West Nile Virus.