SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Public Health today reported that a dead blue jay found July 24 in Robinson in Crawford County has tested positive for West Nile virus.

A total of 139 birds, 36 mosquito batches and a horse in 38 Illinois counties have tested positive this year for West Nile virus since surveillance for the mosquito-transmitted virus began May 1. No confirmed human cases of West Nile encephalitis have been reported in Illinois.

A complete listing of the positive birds, mosquito batches and horse 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.

The Culex or house mosquito, which can carry West Nile virus or St. Louis encephalitis, breeds in warm, stagnant water and begins to increase in numbers early in the summer. Recent temperatures have been ideal for the rapid development and activity of the Culex mosquito and, as a result, a jump in the number of positive birds.

Hospitals and infectious disease physicians have been notified of the increase in detection of birds with West Nile virus and reminded to order tests for arbovirus infections for patients with appropriate symptoms.

Dr. John R. Lumpkin, state public health director, said identification of positive birds, mosquitoes and horses is an indication that the virus is present throughout the state and the following precautions should be taken to reduce the risk of any mosquito-borne disease:

• Stay indoors at dawn, dusk and early evening. If outside at these times, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Loose-fitting, light colored clothing is best.
• Use mosquito repellent containing 25 percent to 35 percent DEET when it is necessary to be outdoors, applied sparingly to exposed skin or clothing, as indicated on the repellent label. Consult a physician before using repellents on young children.
• Check for and repair any 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.

In 2002, West Nile virus activity has been detected in at least 32 states, including Illinois, and Washington, D.C., in the United States and three Canadian provinces. There have been human cases reported in at least three states – Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.

Most people infected with West Nile virus have no symptoms of illness, but some may become ill, three to 15 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. All residents in areas with West Nile virus activity are at risk of getting West Nile encephalitis; those at the highest risk are persons 50 years of age or older.

West Nile virus was first confirmed in Illinois in September 2001 when two dead crows from the Chicago metropolitan area tested positive for the virus.

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.