SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Public Health today reported two more Illinois deaths due to West Nile encephalitis and 12 new laboratory positive human cases of the mosquito-borne disease, raising the state's totals this year to 16 deaths and 358 cases.

Dr. John R. Lumpkin, state public health director, said the most recent deaths were an 86-year-old woman from northern Cook County, who died Sept. 5, and a 68-year-old man from Macon County, who died Monday (Sept. 9). The state's other deaths have been from Chicago (3), suburban Cook County (7) and one each from DuPage, Effingham, Madison and Moultrie counties.

Dr. Lumpkin also announced the state has now provided more than $1 million to local health departments to help fund mosquito control efforts, including $371,926 awarded today to eight local health departments – DeKalb County Health Department ($15,660), Jackson County Health Department ($37,700), LaSalle County Health Department ($135,090), Macoupin County Health Department ($52,000), Madison County Health Department ($43,100), Moultrie County Health Department ($24,076), Stark County Health Department ($15,000) and Stephenson County Health Department ($49,300).

Previously, the state has awarded $695,618 to six local health departments – DuPage County Health Department ($397,160), East Side Health District ($8,400), Montgomery County Health Department ($95,500), Shelby County Health Department ($16,000), Springfield Department of Public Health ($23,839) and the Will County Health Department ($154,719).

Today's 12 new human cases include two from the city of Chicago, six from suburban Cook County, one each from Cumberland and Will counties, and one each from Macon and Rock Island, which reported their first cases. The 86-year-old woman from suburban Cook County whose death is being reported today was originally reported as a case Aug. 30.

Following are the new cases reported today:

CHICAGO: A 52-year-old woman with West Nile fever, who was not hospitalized; and a 61-year-old woman with West Nile encephalitis, who was not hospitalized.

SUBURBAN (NORTHERN) COOK COUNTY: An 85-year-old woman, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis; a 52-year-old woman, whose hospital information is not known; and a 59-year-old man with West Nile fever, who was not hospitalized.

SUBURBAN (SOUTHERN) COOK COUNTY: Aa 66-year-old man, who was hospitalized with West Nile fever; a 36-year-old man, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis; and a 59-year-old man, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY: An 86-year-old man, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis.

MACON COUNTY: A 68-year-old man, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis and died Sept. 9.

ROCK ISLAND COUNTY: A 46-year-old man, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis.

Human cases have been identified in Chicago and 29 Illinois counties: Chicago (92), Clinton County (1), suburban Cook County (185), Crawford County (2), Cumberland (2), DeKalb County (1), DuPage County (19), Edgar County (1), Effingham County (3), Ford County (1), Jackson County (4), Kane County (1), Kankakee County (1), Lake County (1), LaSalle County (4), Macon County (1), Macoupin County (1), Madison County (6), McHenry County (1), Montgomery County (2), Moultrie County (1), Rock Island (1), Sangamon County (3), Shelby County (1), Stark County (1), Stephenson County (1), St. Clair County (6), Vermilion County (1) and Will County (14). The average age of the Illinois cases is 56.

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 to continue to take the following steps to reduce the chance of mosquito bites:

• 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.
• 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.

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.

A total of 500 birds, 452 mosquito batches and 249 horses in 96 Illinois counties have tested positive this year for the virus since surveillance for the mosquito-transmitted virus began on
May 1.

The Culex or house mosquito, which can carry West Nile virus or St. Louis encephalitis virus, breeds in warm, stagnant water and will remain active and biting until there is a hard frost.

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. West Nile virus illness in Illinois has been reported in people ranging in age from 3 months to 92 years, but serious illness is most often present in individuals 50 years of age or older.

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.