TWO WEST NILE CASES REPORTED IN COOK COUNTY

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, state public health director, today announced two additional human cases of West Nile infection have been identified in suburban Cook County, bringing to 32 the number of cases of the mosquito-borne disease reported this year in Illinois.

A 63-year-old woman who became ill in early-August with West Nile fever, was hospitalized and has since been released.

An 80-year-old woman who became ill in early-September with West Nile encephalitis and is hospitalized.

Besides the Cook County cases (one from the city and six from suburban Cook County), the state’s other West Nile cases have been from Adams, Boone, Clinton (2), DuPage (3), Ford, Fulton, Hancock, Jackson, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kendall, LaSalle (3), McLean, Rock Island, Sangamon, St. Clair County (3) and Will (2) counties.

There has been one West Nile disease fatality reported – a 58-year-old man from DuPage County who died Sept. 1.

In addition to the human cases, a total of 202 birds, 892 mosquito pools, two horses and one alpaca have been identified this year with West Nile virus.

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.

Most mosquito-borne infections in Illinois occur in August and September, so Dr. Whitaker again reminded people to continue to take simple, common sense precautions to avoid mosquito bites and protect themselves from West Nile disease. These include:

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

September 17, 2004	2004 West Nile Virus Web site

TWO WEST NILE CASES REPORTED IN COOK COUNTY SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, state public health director, today announced two additional human cases of West Nile infection have been identified in suburban Cook County, bringing to 32 the number of cases of the mosquito-borne disease reported this year in Illinois. Dr. Whitaker said the latest cases are: A 63-year-old woman who became ill in early-August with West Nile fever, was hospitalized and has since been released. An 80-year-old woman who became ill in early-September with West Nile encephalitis and is hospitalized. Besides the Cook County cases (one from the city and six from suburban Cook County), the state’s other West Nile cases have been from Adams, Boone, Clinton (2), DuPage (3), Ford, Fulton, Hancock, Jackson, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kendall, LaSalle (3), McLean, Rock Island, Sangamon, St. Clair County (3) and Will (2) counties. There has been one West Nile disease fatality reported – a 58-year-old man from DuPage County who died Sept. 1. In addition to the human cases, a total of 202 birds, 892 mosquito pools, two horses and one alpaca have been identified this year with West Nile virus. 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. Most mosquito-borne infections in Illinois occur in August and September, so Dr. Whitaker again reminded people to continue to take simple, common sense precautions to avoid mosquito bites and protect themselves from West Nile disease. These include: 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 the Department’s West Nile virus hotline (866-369-9710) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.