WEST NILE CASES IN 2004 TOP LAST YEAR’S TOTAL

SPRINGFIELD , Ill. – Two new cases of West Nile disease from the Chicago metropolitan area have increased to 56 the number of cases of the mosquito-borne disease reported this year in Illinois, Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, state public health director, today announced.

In 2003, Illinois recorded 54 West Nile disease human cases, including one death, and in 2002, the state led the nation with 884 cases and 66 deaths.

A 62-year-old man from suburban Cook County who became ill Sept. 5 with West Nile encephalitis, was hospitalized and has since been discharged.
A 41-year-old woman from Will County who became ill Sept. 25 with West Nile encephalitis, was hospitalized and has since been discharged.

Human cases of West Nile disease reported this year have been from the city of Chicago (5), and Adams, Bond, Boone, Clinton (2), suburban Cook (15), DuPage (5), Ford, Fulton, Hancock, Jackson, Jo Daviess, Kane (2), Kankakee, Kendall, LaSalle (5), McLean, Rock Island, Sangamon (3), St. Clair (3), Wabash and Will (3) counties.

There have been two deaths associated with West Nile disease this year – a 58-year-old man from DuPage County who died Sept. 1 and a 61-year-old woman from suburban Cook County who died Sept. 23.

In addition to the human cases, a total of 227 birds, 1,311 mosquito pools, 11 horses and one alpaca have been identified this year with West Nile virus.

Although temperatures have cooled recently and mosquitoes have been less active, Dr. Whitaker reminded people that mosquitoes can still bite and transmit the disease until there is a hard frost. He encouraged Illinoisans to continue to take simple, common sense precautions to avoid mosquito bites, including:

Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are most active, especially between dusk and dawn.
When outdoors, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, and apply insect repellent that includes DEET according to label instructions. Consult a physician before using repellents on young children.
Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have tears or other openings.
Eliminate all sources of standing water that can support mosquito breeding, including water in bird baths, ponds, flowerpots, wading pools, old tires and any other receptacles.

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

Only about two persons out of 10 who are bitten by an infected mosquito will experience any illness. Illness from West Nile is usually mild and includes fever, headache and body aches, but serious illness, such as encephalitis and meningitis, and death are possible. Persons over 50 years of age have the highest risk of severe disease.

Additional information about West Nile virus can be found on the Department's Web site at www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/wnv.htm or people can call (217-782-5830) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

October 18, 2004	2004 West Nile Virus Web site

WEST NILE CASES IN 2004 TOP LAST YEAR’S TOTAL SPRINGFIELD , Ill. – Two new cases of West Nile disease from the Chicago metropolitan area have increased to 56 the number of cases of the mosquito-borne disease reported this year in Illinois, Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, state public health director, today announced. In 2003, Illinois recorded 54 West Nile disease human cases, including one death, and in 2002, the state led the nation with 884 cases and 66 deaths. Dr. Whitaker said the latest cases were: A 62-year-old man from suburban Cook County who became ill Sept. 5 with West Nile encephalitis, was hospitalized and has since been discharged. A 41-year-old woman from Will County who became ill Sept. 25 with West Nile encephalitis, was hospitalized and has since been discharged. Human cases of West Nile disease reported this year have been from the city of Chicago (5), and Adams, Bond, Boone, Clinton (2), suburban Cook (15), DuPage (5), Ford, Fulton, Hancock, Jackson, Jo Daviess, Kane (2), Kankakee, Kendall, LaSalle (5), McLean, Rock Island, Sangamon (3), St. Clair (3), Wabash and Will (3) counties. There have been two deaths associated with West Nile disease this year – a 58-year-old man from DuPage County who died Sept. 1 and a 61-year-old woman from suburban Cook County who died Sept. 23. In addition to the human cases, a total of 227 birds, 1,311 mosquito pools, 11 horses and one alpaca have been identified this year with West Nile virus. Although temperatures have cooled recently and mosquitoes have been less active, Dr. Whitaker reminded people that mosquitoes can still bite and transmit the disease until there is a hard frost. He encouraged Illinoisans to continue to take simple, common sense precautions to avoid mosquito bites, including: Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are most active, especially between dusk and dawn. When outdoors, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, and apply insect repellent that includes DEET according to label instructions. Consult a physician before using repellents on young children. Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have tears or other openings. Eliminate all sources of standing water that can support mosquito breeding, including water in bird baths, ponds, flowerpots, wading pools, old tires and any other receptacles. WNV is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird. 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. Only about two persons out of 10 who are bitten by an infected mosquito will experience any illness. Illness from West Nile is usually mild and includes fever, headache and body aches, but serious illness, such as encephalitis and meningitis, and death are possible. Persons over 50 years of age have the highest risk of severe disease. Additional information about West Nile virus can be found on the Department's Web site at www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/wnv.htm or people can call (217-782-5830) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.