SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Public Health today reported that dead crows found recently in Livingston and Warren counties have tested positive for West Nile virus.

A crow collected Aug. 1 in Pontiac in Livingston County and one crow each from Monmouth (Aug. 2) and Alexis (Aug. 4) in Warren County were reported positive for West Nile virus by the Illinois Department of Agriculture laboratory in Galesburg.

A total of 190 birds, 105 mosquito batches and three horses in 48 Illinois counties have tested positive this year for West Nile virus since surveillance for the mosquito-transmitted virus began May 1. An Illinois human case of West Nile fever was announced Tuesday.

A complete listing of the positive birds and mosquito batches 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 virus, 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 is a reminder 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 outdoors 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 34 states, including Illinois, and Washington, D.C., in the United States and three Canadian provinces. In addition to Illinois, there have been human cases of West Nile encephalitis confirmed this year in Alabama, 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.