SPRINGFIELD, IL – Three Chicago-area deaths from West Nile disease were announced today by the Illinois Department of Public Health, bringing to 21 the number of Illinoisans who have died this year due to the mosquito-borne disease. In addition, the Department reported that the state's total number of laboratory positive human cases of West Nile illness now stands at 399 with the addition of 18 new cases.

Dr. John R. Lumpkin, state public health director, said the most recent deaths were a 78-year-old woman from southern Cook County, who died today; an 88-year-old woman from northern Cook County, who died Sept. 11; and a 64-year-old man from southern Cook County, who died Sept. 13. The state's other deaths have been from Chicago (4), suburban Cook County (8) and one each from DuPage, Effingham, Macon, Madison, Moultrie and Sangamon counties.

Dr. Lumpkin also announced the state has awarded an additional $876,582 to four county health departments to assist with mosquito control efforts. Those receiving emergency funds today were Clinton County Health Department, $14,683; Cook County Department of Public Health, $714,948; Cumberland County Health Department, $23,851; and the Kane County Health Department, $123,100.

Previously, the state awarded $1.1 million to 14 local health departments – DeKalb County Health Department, DuPage County Health Department, East Side Health District, Jackson County Health Department, LaSalle County Health Department, Macoupin County Health Department, Madison County Health Department, Montgomery County Health Department, Moultrie County Health Department, Shelby County Health Department, Springfield Department of Public Health, Stark County Health Department, Stephenson County Health Department and the Will County Health Department.

Today's 18 new human cases include four from the city of Chicago, 10 from suburban Cook County, one each from Effingham and LaSalle counties, and one each from Henderson and Jasper counties, which reported their first cases.

Following are the new cases reported today:

CHICAGO: A 42-year-old man, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis; a 38-year-old woman, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis; a 41-year-old woman, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis; and an 85-year-old woman, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis.

SUBURBAN (NORTHERN) COOK COUNTY: A 38-year-old man with West Nile fever, whose hospital information is not known; a 97-year-old woman, who was hospitalized; a 52-year-old woman with West Nile fever, whose hospital information is not known; a 56-year-old woman, whose hospital information is not known; a 31-year-old woman, who was hospitalized with West Nile fever; a 55-year-old man, whose hospital information is not known; and an 88-year-old female, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis and died Sept. 11.

SUBURBAN (SOUTHERN) COOK COUNTY: A 48-year-old woman, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis; a 67-year-old man, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis; and a 64-year-old man, who was hospitalized and died Sept. 13. The 78-year-old woman who died today was previously reported as a West Nile encephalitis case on Sept. 9.

EFFINGHAM COUNTY: A 38-year-old woman with West Nile fever, whose hospital information is not known.

HENDERSON COUNTY: A 65-year-old man, who was hospitalized with West Nile fever.

JASPER COUNTY: A 39-year-old woman, who was hospitalized.

LASALLE COUNTY: A 31-year-old woman, whose hospital information is not known.

Human cases have been identified in Chicago and 32 Illinois counties: Chicago (105), Clark County (1), Clinton County (1), suburban Cook County (204), Crawford County (2), Cumberland (2), DeKalb County (1), DuPage County (19), Edgar County (1), Effingham County (4), Ford County (1), Henderson County (1), Jackson County (5), Jasper County (1), Kane County (1), Kankakee County (1), Lake County (1), LaSalle County (5), Macon County (1), Macoupin County (1), Madison County (6), McHenry County (1), McLean County (1), Montgomery County (2), Moultrie County (1), Rock Island County (1), Sangamon County (4), Shelby County (1), Stark County (1), Stephenson County (1), St. Clair County (7), 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 506 birds, 528 mosquito batches and 249 horses in 97 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 97 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.