SPRINGFIELD, IL – Two more deaths in the Chicago metropolitan area from West Nile encephalitis bring the total number of Illinois fatalities this year from the mosquito-borne disease to 27, Dr. John R. Lumpkin, state public health director, today announced. In addition, Dr. Lumpkin reported that the number of human cases of West Nile disease in the state has reached 500 with the report of 27 new laboratory positive cases.

The most recent deaths were an 85-year-old woman from northern Cook County, who was admitted to the hospital Aug. 18 and died Wednesday (Sept. 18); and a 76-year-old woman from Lake County, who was admitted to the hospital Sept. 7 and died Sunday (Sept. 22). The state's other deaths have been from Chicago (5), suburban Cook County (13) and one each from DuPage, Effingham, Fulton, Macon, Madison, Moultrie and Sangamon counties.

The 27 cases of West Nile disease reported today include the first human case in Peoria County. So far this year, there has been a total of 500 human cases of West Nile disease in 39 of the state's 102 counties and 27 deaths. Human cases range in age from 3 months to 97 years and the average age is 56.

Today's cases include eight from the city of Chicago, nine from suburban Cook County, five from DuPage County, two from St. Clair County and one each from Kane, Lake and Peoria counties.

Cases announced today follow:

CHICAGO: A 79-year-old woman with West Nile encephalitis, whose hospital information is not known; a 39-year-old man, whose hospital information is not known; a 56-year-old woman, whose hospital information is not known; a 57-year-old woman, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis; a 48-year-old man, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis; a 77-year-old man with West Nile encephalitis, whose hospital information is not known; a 45-year-old woman, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis; and a 72-year-old woman, whose hospital information is not known.

SUBURBAN (NORTHERN) COOK COUNTY: A 76-year-old man, who was hospitalized; a 65-year-old woman, whose hospital information is not known; and a 75-year-old man, whose hospital information is not known. The 85-year-old woman who died Sept. 18 was previously reported as a West Nile disease case on Sept. 13.

SUBURBAN (SOUTHERN) COOK COUNTY: A 77-year-old man, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis; a 61-year-old man, who was hospitalized with West Nile fever; a 73-year-old man, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis; a 66-year-old woman, whose hospital information is not known; a 70-year-old woman, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis; and a 46-year-old man, whose hospital information is not known.

DUPAGE COUNTY: A 31-year-old woman with West Nile encephalitis, who was not hospitalized; a 39-year-old woman with West Nile fever, who was not hospitalized; a 38-year-old woman with West Nile encephalitis, whose hospital information is not known; an 86-year-old woman, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis; and a 41-year-old female, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis.

KANE COUNTY: A 43-year-old man with West Nile encephalitis, who was not hospitalized.

LAKE COUNTY: A 76-year-old woman, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis and died Sunday (Sept. 22).

PEORIA COUNTY: An 80-year-old man, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis.

ST. CLAIR COUNTY: A 25-year-old woman, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis; and a 35-year-old woman, who was hospitalized.

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 continued to urge Illinoisans to take the following steps to reduce the chance of mosquito bites until their area experiences a hard frost:

• 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 508 birds, 528 mosquito batches and 415 horses in 98 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 remains 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. Serious West Nile virus 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.