SPRINGFIELD, IL – The deaths of two 87-year-old women from West Nile encephalitis are among 15 new cases of the mosquito-borne disease reported today by the Illinois Department of Public Health. So far this year in Illinois, there have been a total of 614 cases of West Nile disease and 35 deaths.

Dr. John R. Lumpkin, state public health director, said the most recent deaths were an 87-year-old woman from Chicago who was hospitalized and died Tuesday (Oct. 1) and an 87-year-old woman from Fulton County who was hospitalized Sept. 19 and died Sept. 27. The state's other West Nile disease fatalities this year have been from Chicago (7), suburban Cook County (15) and one each from DuPage, Effingham, Fulton, Jackson, Knox, Lake, Macon, Madison, Moultrie, Sangamon and White counties.

The 15 new cases of West Nile disease reported today include the first human case in Menard County, nine from the city of Chicago, two from suburban Cook County and one each from Fulton, Peoria and Sangamon counties. So far this year, there have been a total of 614 human cases of West Nile disease in 43 of the state's 102 counties; they range in age from 3 months to 97 years. The average age is 56.

Cases announced today follow:

CHICAGO: A 88-year-old man, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis; a 23-year-old man with West Nile encephalitis, whose hospital information is not known; a 66-year-old woman, whose hospital information is not known; a 75-year-old man, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis; a 70-year-old man with West Nile fever, whose hospital information is not known; an 87-year-old woman, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis and died Oct. 1; a 79-year-old woman, whose hospital information is not known; a 58-year-old woman, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis; and an age unknown man, whose hospital information is not known.

SUBURBAN (NORTHERN) COOK COUNTY: An 80-year-old woman, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis.

SUBURBAN (SOUTHERN) COOK COUNTY: A 15-year-old boy with West Nile encephalitis, whose hospital information is not known.

FULTON COUNTY: An 87-year-old woman, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis and died Sept. 27.

MENARD COUNTY: A 58-year-old man, who was hospitalized with West Nile fever.

PEORIA COUNTY: A 48-year-old woman, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis.

SANGAMON COUNTY: A 77-year-old man, whose hospital information is not known.

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.

Dr. Lumpkin reminded Illinoisans it was still important to take the following steps to reduce the chance of mosquito bites until their area experiences a hard frost:

• Avoid being outdoors at dawn, dusk and early evening when mosquitoes are most active. If outdoors at these times, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long- sleeved shirt to cover as much of the skin as possible. Loose-fitting, light colored clothing is best.
• Use insect/mosquito repellent containing 25 percent to 35 percent DEET when outdoors when mosquitoes are biting, applied sparingly to exposed skin or clothing, as indicated on the repellent label. Consult a physician before using repellents on young children and avoid applying repellent to children less than 2 years of age
• Check for and repair any holes or tears in residential screens, including porches and patios.
• Eliminate stagnant water in bird baths, ponds, flower pots, wading pools, old tires and any other receptacles in which 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.

Dr. Lumpkin said most people who get infected with West Nile virus have either no symptoms or mild symptoms, but a few individuals may develop a more severe form of the disease, such as encephalitis or meningitis.

Most people infected with West Nile virus have no clinical symptoms of illness, but some may become ill three to 14 days after the bite of an infected mosquito. Infections can be mild and include fever, headache and body aches, or severe and marked by headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, convulsions, muscle weakness, paralysis and, rarely, death. Serious West Nile virus illness is most often present in individuals 50 years of age or older.

A total of 513 birds, 528 mosquito batches and 431 horses in 98 Illinois counties have tested positive this year for the virus since surveillance for the mosquito-transmitted virus began on May 1.

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.