FOUR CHICAGO AREA WEST NILE CASES RAISE STATE TOTAL TO 38

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Four new human cases of West Nile infection have been identified in the Chicago area, bringing to 38 the number of cases of the mosquito-borne disease reported this year in Illinois, Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, state public health director, today announced.

A 61-year-old woman from suburban Cook County who became ill in early September with West Nile encephalitis and is hospitalized.

An 81-year-old man from suburban Cook County who became ill in mid-August with West Nile encephalitis and is hospitalized.

An 82-year-old woman from suburban Cook County who became ill in early September with West Nile encephalitis and is hospitalized.

A 49-year-old woman from DuPage County who became ill in mid-September with West Nile encephalitis, was hospitalized and has been discharged.

West Nile cases reported this year have been from the city of Chicago (2), and Adams, Boone, Clinton (2), suburban Cook (9), DuPage (4), Ford, Fulton, Hancock, Jackson, Jo Daviess, Kane (2), Kendall, LaSalle (3), McLean, Rock Island, Sangamon, St. Clair (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 211 birds, 1,051 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.

Dr. Whitaker 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 24, 2004	2004 West Nile Virus Web site

FOUR CHICAGO AREA WEST NILE CASES RAISE STATE TOTAL TO 38 SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Four new human cases of West Nile infection have been identified in the Chicago area, bringing to 38 the number of cases of the mosquito-borne disease reported this year in Illinois, Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, state public health director, today announced. Dr. Whitaker said the latest cases are: A 61-year-old woman from suburban Cook County who became ill in early September with West Nile encephalitis and is hospitalized. An 81-year-old man from suburban Cook County who became ill in mid-August with West Nile encephalitis and is hospitalized. An 82-year-old woman from suburban Cook County who became ill in early September with West Nile encephalitis and is hospitalized. A 49-year-old woman from DuPage County who became ill in mid-September with West Nile encephalitis, was hospitalized and has been discharged. West Nile cases reported this year have been from the city of Chicago (2), and Adams, Boone, Clinton (2), suburban Cook (9), DuPage (4), Ford, Fulton, Hancock, Jackson, Jo Daviess, Kane (2), Kendall, LaSalle (3), McLean, Rock Island, Sangamon, St. Clair (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 211 birds, 1,051 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. Dr. Whitaker 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.