SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, state public health director, today announced a DuPage County man has become the state's first fatality this year from West Nile disease.

Dr. Whitaker said the 58-year-old man, who was reported yesterday afternoon as a case, passed away Wednesday evening. He had become ill in mid-August and been hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis.

"This man's unfortunate death serves as a reminder to all of us how serious West Nile disease can be," Dr. Whitaker said. "Our sympathies and thoughts are with his family."

In addition to the man's death, Dr. Whitaker also reported four other West Nile human cases have pushed the state's case total this year to 20. They are:

• A 65-year-old woman from Clinton County with West Nile encephalitis, who became ill in late-August and is hospitalized.
• A 40-year-old woman from suburban Cook County, who became ill in mid-August with West Nile fever and did not require hospitalization.
• A 58-year-old woman from McLean County, who became ill in early July with West Nile fever and did not require hospitalization.
• A 34-year-old woman from Will County, who became ill late-July with West Nile fever and did not require hospitalization.

The state's other human cases of West Nile have been from the city of Chicago and Boone, Clinton, Cook, DuPage, Ford, Jackson, Jo Daviess, Kendall, LaSalle, Rock Island, Sangamon, St. Clair (2) and Will counties.

In addition to the human cases, a total of 179 birds, 769 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 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.