SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Public Health has reported a second dead crow from Edgar County has tested positive for West Nile virus. The crow was found in Paris June 7 and determined to be positive for the virus by the University of Illinois Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Urbana/Champaign. This is the seventh dead bird in Illinois to test positive for West Nile virus since surveillance for the mosquito-trasnmitted virus began on May 1. Other positives have been reported in Cook County (3) and Kane County (2).

2002 West Nile virus surveillance information can be found on the Department's Web site at <www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/wnvsurveillance_data_02.htm>.