SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A 39-year-old Jackson County man has been identified as the state's second human case of West Nile disease this year, Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, state public health director, today announced.

The man, who became ill on June 11 with what has now been diagnosed as West Nile fever, did not require hospital treatment and has since recovered. A blood sample taken July 12 was tested positive for the mosquito-borne disease by the Department's Chicago laboratory.

Illinois' first case this year - announced Thursday - was a 67-year-old man from Jo Daviess County with West Nile encephalitis. He was hospitalized and is now recovering at home.

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

Besides reporting a second human case, Dr. Whitaker also announced mosquitoes collected July 21 in Centralia in Marion County have tested positive for West Nile virus, marking the 36th county this year with a confirmed positive since state and local health departments began surveillance on May 1. A total of 95 birds and 140 mosquito pools have now tested positive for West Nile virus.

Dr. Whitaker said individuals can reduce their risk of West Nile illness and other mosquito-borne diseases by taking these precautions:

• 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. Although illness from West Nile is usually mild and include fever, headache and body aches, serious illness and death are possible, particularly for persons over the age of 50 or persons that are immunosuppressed.

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 the Department's West Nile virus hotline (866-369-9710) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.