WEST NILE CASES REACH 40 WITH ADDITION OF TWO NEW CASES

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, state public health director, today announced the number of human West Nile infection cases in the state this year has climbed to 40 with the report of two new cases of the mosquito-borne disease.

A 77-year-old woman from Chicago who became ill in early September with West Nile fever, was hospitalized and has been discharged.

An 88-year-old woman from LaSalle County who became ill in mid-September with West Nile fever, was hospitalized and has been discharged.

Human cases of West Nile disease reported this year have been from the city of Chicago (3), and Adams, Boone, Clinton (2), suburban Cook (9), DuPage (4), Ford, Fulton, Hancock, Jackson, Jo Daviess, Kane (2), Kendall, LaSalle (4), 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 213 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 27, 2004	2004 West Nile Virus Web site

WEST NILE CASES REACH 40 WITH ADDITION OF TWO NEW CASES SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, state public health director, today announced the number of human West Nile infection cases in the state this year has climbed to 40 with the report of two new cases of the mosquito-borne disease. Dr. Whitaker said the latest cases are: A 77-year-old woman from Chicago who became ill in early September with West Nile fever, was hospitalized and has been discharged. An 88-year-old woman from LaSalle County who became ill in mid-September with West Nile fever, was hospitalized and has been discharged. Human cases of West Nile disease reported this year have been from the city of Chicago (3), and Adams, Boone, Clinton (2), suburban Cook (9), DuPage (4), Ford, Fulton, Hancock, Jackson, Jo Daviess, Kane (2), Kendall, LaSalle (4), 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 213 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.