SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The number of West Nile diseases cases in Illinois this year climbed to 39 today with the announcement by Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, state public health director, of three new cases of the mosquito-borne disease.

Dr. Whitaker said the latest cases are:

• a 64-year-old man from DuPage County, who was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis Sept. 25 and remains under hospital care.
• an 82-year-old man from Piatt County, who became ill Sept 23, was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis and remains under hospital care.
• a 40-year-old woman from Lake County, who became ill Aug. 15 with West Nile fever and did not require hospitalization.

The state's West Nile disease cases this year, which include one death - a 78-year-old woman from suburban Cook County, are from the city of Chicago (3), suburban Cook County (13), DuPage County (3), Madison County (2), Piatt (2), Sangamon County (3), Will County (2) and one each from Champaign, DeKalb, Lake, LaSalle, Macon, Macoupin, McLean, St. Clair, Vermilion, Whiteside and Winnebago counties.

In 2002, Illinois had the most West Nile disease cases in the nation with 884 and 66 deaths and, as of this date last year, the state had reported 661 West Nile human cases and 41 deaths.

Although temperatures have cooled recently, Dr. Whitaker reminded Illinoisans it was still important to follow simple, common sense precautions to reduce the chance of mosquito bites until their area experiences a sustained hard freeze (27 degrees F or less for several hours). Until a hard freeze kills the mosquitoes, some will remain and may bite during warm fall daylight hours, especially in areas near dense vegetation where they hide.

Suggested precautions include:

• Whenever outdoors between dusk and dawn, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Loose-fitting, light colored clothing is best.
• When it is necessary to be outdoors, apply insect repellent as indicated on the repellent label. The more DEET a product contains, the longer the repellent can protect against mosquito bites. However, concentrations higher than 50 percent do not increase the length of protection. For most situations, 10 percent to 25 percent DEET is adequate. Apply repellents to clothes whenever possible; apply sparingly to exposed skin if label permits. Consult a physician before using repellents on young children.
• Check residential screens, including those on porches and patios, for tears and other openings. Repair, as necessary, to prevent mosquito entry.
• Eliminate stagnant water in bird baths, ponds, flowerpots, wading pools, old tires and any other receptacles in which mosquitoes might breed.

Dr. Whitaker said - while there is reason for concern - few people (about 1 in 150) will develop serious illness if bitten by an infected mosquito.

WNV is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird.

Dr. Whitaker said most people with the virus have no clinical symptoms of illness, but some may become ill three to 14 days after the bite of an infected mosquito. Those who become ill may have mild symptoms and include fever, headache and body aches, or can be severe and marked by headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, convulsions, muscle weakness, paralysis and, in rare cases, death. Serious West Nile virus illness is most often present in individuals 50 years of age or older.

A total of 222 birds, 388 mosquito pools and 25 horses have tested positive in 2003 for West Nile virus in 68 Illinois counties since surveillance began May 1. Last year, West Nile activity was reported in 100 of the state's 102 counties.

West Nile virus has been detected in 45 states in 2003 and more than 6,500 human cases have been reported.

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

Additional information about West Nile virus can be found on the Department's Web site http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/wnv.htm or by calling the Department's West Nile virus hotline at 1-866-369-9710.