SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Public Health today announced 15 new cases of West Nile disease, bringing to 690 the number of human cases of the mosquito-borne disease in the state this year.

The new cases include one from the city of Chicago, nine from suburban Cook County, two from DuPage County and one each from Henderson, LaSalle and Peoria counties. So far this year, Illinois has reported human cases of West Nile disease in 46 of the state's 102 counties. Cases range in age from 3 months to 97 years; the average age is 57.

Cases announced today follow:

CHICAGO: A 61-year-old man, whose hospital information is not known.

SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY: A 57-year-old man, whose hospital information is not known; a 42-year-old woman, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis; a 55-year-old man, who was hospitalized with West Nile fever; a 67-year-old man, whose hospital information is not known; a 55-year-old woman with West Nile encephalitis, who was not hospitalized; a 57-year-old woman with West Nile fever, whose hospital information is not known; a 36-year-old man with West Nile fever, whose hospital information is not known; a 47-year-old man, whose hospital information is not known; and a 40-year-old woman, who was not hospitalized. All are from northern Cook County.

DUPAGE COUNTY: A 45-year-old woman, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis; and a 72-year-old man, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis.

HENDERSON COUNTY: A 49-year-old woman, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis.

LASALLE COUNTY: A 46-year-old man with West Nile fever, who was not hospitalized.

PEORIA COUNTY: A 43-year-old woman with West Nile fever, who was not hospitalized.

There have been 42 deaths in Illinois from West Nile encephalitis. Deaths have been reported in Chicago (10), suburban Cook County (15), DuPage County (2), Fulton County (2), Sangamon County (3) and one each in Effingham, Jackson, Kane, Kendall, Knox, Lake, Macon, Madison, Moultrie and White counties.

A total of 513 birds, 528 mosquito batches and 949 horses in 100 Illinois counties have tested positive this year for the virus since surveillance for the mosquito-transmitted virus began on May 1.

A complete listing of the positive birds, mosquito batches, horses and humans identified so far in Illinois, by county, is available on the Department's Web site at <www.idph.state.il.us>. Go to the West Nile virus page and select "2002" under surveillance.

Although temperatures have been near freezing in many parts of the state recently, Dr. John R. Lumpkin, state public health director, reminded Illinoisans it is still important to take steps to reduce the chance of mosquito bites until their area experiences a hard frost (27 degrees F or
less) . These recommendations include staying indoors at dawn, dusk and early evening when mosquitoes are most active; using insect repellent when outdoors when mosquitoes are biting; checking for and repairing any holes in screens; and eliminating stagnant water where mosquitoes might breed.

The Culex or house mosquito, which can carry West Nile virus or St. Louis encephalitis virus, breeds in warm, stagnant water and remains active and biting until there is a hard frost. As the temperatures dip below 60 degrees at night and in early morning, the mosquitoes' feeding habits change from seeking blood meals, which they use for reproduction, to sugar meals from plants that help sustain them over winter.

EDITOR'S NOTE: West Nile disease case updates will be issued on Tuesdays and Thursdays unless there is a fatality or a human case is reported in a county for the first time.

2002 West Nile virus surveillance information can be found on the Department's Web site at www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/wnvsurveillance_data02.htm.