SPRINGFIELD, IL – The death of a Fulton County man with West Nile encephalitis is among five new laboratory positive cases of the mosquito-borne disease reported today by the Illinois Department of Public Health. So far this year, there have been 46 deaths and 719 cases of the mosquito-borne disease.

Dr. John R. Lumpkin, state public health director, said a 62-year-old Fulton County man was admitted to a hospital Sept. 23 and died Oct. 22 with West Nile encephalitis.

The state's other fatalities have been have been from Chicago (11), suburban Cook County (17), DuPage County (2), Fulton County (2), Sangamon County (3) and one each from Effingham, Jackson, Kane, Kendall, Knox, Lake, Macon, Madison, Moultrie and White counties.

The new cases of West Nile disease include two from suburban Cook County, and one each from Effingham, Fulton and Macon counties. So far this year, human cases of West Nile disease have been reported in 48 of the state's 102 counties. Cases range in age from 3 months to 97 years; the average age is 57.

Cases announced today are a 40-year-old man from northern Cook County, whose hospital information is not known; a 68-year-old woman from northern Cook County, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis; a 48-year-old woman from Effingham County, who was hospitalized; the 62-year-old man from Fulton County, who died Oct. 22 with West Nile encephalitis; and a 14-year-old boy from Macon County, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis.

A total of 513 birds, 528 mosquito batches and 949 horses in 100 Illinois counties have tested positive this year 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.

Temperatures at night have recently been at or below freezing in many parts of the state and the chance of transmission of West Nile virus appears to be remote. Some mosquitoes still may be present in some parts of the state and may bite during warm, fall daylight hours if the dense vegetation where they hide is disturbed.

The Department will continue to update case totals for the next couple months. These additional cases most likely will be individuals who were infected in August, September or early October and for whom laboratory results were delayed.

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.