SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Public Health has reported a third dead crow from Cook County has tested positive for West Nile virus. The crow was found in Berwyn May 22 and determined to be positive for the virus by the University of Illinois Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Urbana/Champaign. This is the sixth 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 Kane County (2) and Edgar County (1).

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>.