GOV. BLAGOJEVICH AWARDS $2 MILLION IN GRANTS FOR WEST NILE VIRUS SURVEILLANCE AND CONTROL

GOV. BLAGOJEVICH AWARDS $2 MILLION IN GRANTS FOR
WEST NILE VIRUS SURVEILLANCE AND CONTROL
Local health departments receive funding

SPRINGFIELD – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today awarded grants totaling $2 million to local health departments as part of this year’s efforts to detect and control mosquitoes that carry the West Nile virus or other mosquito-borne disease.

“This money will go a long way in keeping Illinoisans, especially the elderly, protected from West Nile virus,” Gov. Blagojevich said. “It’s important that we remain vigilant in our surveillance and prevention methods so that we never again experience the toll West Nile disease took on the state in 2002.”

The money comes from a special 50-cent fee on the purchase of new tires that was imposed in 2003 to create a public health emergency fund to finance human, mosquito, bird and horse surveillance for mosquito-borne diseases. Local health departments that had positive West Nile virus activity in their area last year received funding. The Cook County Department of Public Health is one of more than 60 grant recipients statewide.

“We welcome this funding as it ensures our ability to continue mosquito and bird surveillance and mosquito prevention and control, as well as an enhanced capacity to protect the public from disease,” said Stephen A. Martin Jr., Ph.D., M.P.H., chief operating officer of the Cook County Department of Public Health.

Illinois’ 2005 surveillance for West Nile virus, which began May 1, includes laboratory tests on mosquitoes, dead crows and blue jays, and the testing of sick horses and humans with West Nile-like disease symptoms. Citizens who find sick or dying crows or blue jays should contact their local health department, which will determine if the bird is acceptable for testing.

So far this year, West Nile activity has been reported in DuPage (mosquitoes), Johnson (mosquitoes), McLean (crow) and Woodford (crow) counties.

“We cannot predict what the West Nile virus activity will be this year in Illinois, but we can prepare,” said Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, state public health director. Surveillance alerts us to where infected birds or mosquitoes are located so that public health officials can notify citizens about the increased risk of mosquito-borne diseases in their area.”

West Nile virus 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 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, are possible. Persons older than 50 years of age have the highest risk of severe disease.

In 2002, the state led the nation with 884 human cases, including 66 deaths, and West Nile activity was reported in 100 of 102 counties. Last year, there were 60 human cases and four deaths, and West Nile activity was reported in 62 counties. However, unusually cool weather last summer suppressed mosquito activity and consequently, hot summer weather this year could result in a higher number of cases.

The best way to prevent West Nile disease or any other mosquito-borne illness is to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and to take personal precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Precautions include:

Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are most active, especially between dusk and dawn. Use prevention methods whenever mosquitoes are present.
When outdoors, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, and apply insect repellent that includes DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus according to label instructions. Consult a physician before using repellents on infants.
Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have tears or other openings. Try to keep doors and windows shut, especially at night.
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. In communities where there are organized mosquito control programs, contact your municipal government to report areas of stagnant water in roadside ditches, flooded yards and similar locations that may produce mosquitoes.

Grants were awarded to the following local health departments:

Adams County Health Department, $14,827
Bond County Health Department, $2,271
Boone County Health Department, $6,382
Bureau County Health Department, $1,000
Calhoun County Health Department, $449
Cass County Health Department, $1,000
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District, $9,183
Chicago Public Health District, $628,918
Clay County Health Department, $1,287
Clinton County Health Department, $5,577
Cook County Department of Public Health, $538,730
DeKalb County Health Department, $1,000
DuPage County Health Department, $196,353
East Side Public Health District, $15,845
Egyptian Health Department, $4,290
Fayette County Health Department, $1,000
Ford-Iroquois Public Health Department, $6,870
Franklin-Williamson Bi-County Health Department, $1,000
Fulton County Health Department, $5,927
Green County Health Department, $1,304
Grundy County Health Department, $1,000
Hancock County Health Department, $4,370
Henderson County Health Department, $726
Henry County Health Department, $1,000
Jackson County Health Department, $12,946
Jefferson County Health Department, $5,158
Jersey County Health Department, $1,915
Jo Davies County Health Department, $3,871
Kane County Health Department, $87,761
Kankakee County Health Department, $22,549
Kendall County Health Department, $11,845
Knox County Health Department, $4,934
Lake County Health Department, $56,941
LaSalle County Health Department, $15,362
Lee County Health Department, $3,187
Logan County Health Department, $1,000
Macon County Health Department, $10,136
Macoupin County Health Department, $4,332
Madison County Health Department, $22,882
Marion County Health Department, $3,684
Mason County Health Department, $1,000
McDonough County Health Department, $1,000
McHenry County Health Department, $22,983
McLean County Health Department, $32,669
Menard County Health Department, $1,000
Mercer County Health Department, $1,498
Montgomery County Health Department, $2,709
Ogle County Health Department, $1,000
Peoria City/County Health Department, $1,000
Pike County Health Department, $1,000
Rock Island County Health Department, $32,439
Sangamon County Department of Public Health, $10,981
Schuyler County Health Department, $1,000
Springfield Department of Public Health, $24,204
St. Clair County Health Department, $1,000
Stephenson County Health Department, $1,000
Tazewell County Health Department, $1,000
Vermilion County Health Department, $1,000
Wabash County Health Department, $1,666
Washington County Health Department, $1,000
Whiteside County Health Department, $5,360
Will County Health Department, $109,075
Winnebago County Health Department, $24,603
Woodford County Health Department, $1,000

Additional information about West Nile virus can be found on IDPH’s Web site at www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/wnv.htm.

June 14, 2005

GOV. BLAGOJEVICH AWARDS $2 MILLION IN GRANTS FOR WEST NILE VIRUS SURVEILLANCE AND CONTROL *Local health departments receive funding* SPRINGFIELD – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today awarded grants totaling $2 million to local health departments as part of this year’s efforts to detect and control mosquitoes that carry the West Nile virus or other mosquito-borne disease. “This money will go a long way in keeping Illinoisans, especially the elderly, protected from West Nile virus,” Gov. Blagojevich said. “It’s important that we remain vigilant in our surveillance and prevention methods so that we never again experience the toll West Nile disease took on the state in 2002.” The money comes from a special 50-cent fee on the purchase of new tires that was imposed in 2003 to create a public health emergency fund to finance human, mosquito, bird and horse surveillance for mosquito-borne diseases. Local health departments that had positive West Nile virus activity in their area last year received funding. The Cook County Department of Public Health is one of more than 60 grant recipients statewide. “We welcome this funding as it ensures our ability to continue mosquito and bird surveillance and mosquito prevention and control, as well as an enhanced capacity to protect the public from disease,” said Stephen A. Martin Jr., Ph.D., M.P.H., chief operating officer of the Cook County Department of Public Health. Illinois’ 2005 surveillance for West Nile virus, which began May 1, includes laboratory tests on mosquitoes, dead crows and blue jays, and the testing of sick horses and humans with West Nile-like disease symptoms. Citizens who find sick or dying crows or blue jays should contact their local health department, which will determine if the bird is acceptable for testing. So far this year, West Nile activity has been reported in DuPage (mosquitoes), Johnson (mosquitoes), McLean (crow) and Woodford (crow) counties. “We cannot predict what the West Nile virus activity will be this year in Illinois, but we can prepare,” said Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, state public health director. Surveillance alerts us to where infected birds or mosquitoes are located so that public health officials can notify citizens about the increased risk of mosquito-borne diseases in their area.” West Nile virus 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 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, are possible. Persons older than 50 years of age have the highest risk of severe disease. In 2002, the state led the nation with 884 human cases, including 66 deaths, and West Nile activity was reported in 100 of 102 counties. Last year, there were 60 human cases and four deaths, and West Nile activity was reported in 62 counties. However, unusually cool weather last summer suppressed mosquito activity and consequently, hot summer weather this year could result in a higher number of cases. The best way to prevent West Nile disease or any other mosquito-borne illness is to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and to take personal precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Precautions include: Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are most active, especially between dusk and dawn. Use prevention methods whenever mosquitoes are present. When outdoors, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, and apply insect repellent that includes DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus according to label instructions. Consult a physician before using repellents on infants. Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have tears or other openings. Try to keep doors and windows shut, especially at night. 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. In communities where there are organized mosquito control programs, contact your municipal government to report areas of stagnant water in roadside ditches, flooded yards and similar locations that may produce mosquitoes. Grants were awarded to the following local health departments: Adams County Health Department, $14,827 Bond County Health Department, $2,271 Boone County Health Department, $6,382 Bureau County Health Department, $1,000 Calhoun County Health Department, $449 Cass County Health Department, $1,000 Champaign-Urbana Public Health District, $9,183 Chicago Public Health District, $628,918 Clay County Health Department, $1,287 Clinton County Health Department, $5,577 Cook County Department of Public Health, $538,730 DeKalb County Health Department, $1,000 DuPage County Health Department, $196,353 East Side Public Health District, $15,845 Egyptian Health Department, $4,290 Fayette County Health Department, $1,000 Ford-Iroquois Public Health Department, $6,870 Franklin-Williamson Bi-County Health Department, $1,000 Fulton County Health Department, $5,927 Green County Health Department, $1,304 Grundy County Health Department, $1,000 Hancock County Health Department, $4,370 Henderson County Health Department, $726 Henry County Health Department, $1,000 Jackson County Health Department, $12,946 Jefferson County Health Department, $5,158 Jersey County Health Department, $1,915 Jo Davies County Health Department, $3,871 Kane County Health Department, $87,761 Kankakee County Health Department, $22,549 Kendall County Health Department, $11,845 Knox County Health Department, $4,934 Lake County Health Department, $56,941 LaSalle County Health Department, $15,362 Lee County Health Department, $3,187 Logan County Health Department, $1,000 Macon County Health Department, $10,136 Macoupin County Health Department, $4,332 Madison County Health Department, $22,882 Marion County Health Department, $3,684 Mason County Health Department, $1,000 McDonough County Health Department, $1,000 McHenry County Health Department, $22,983 McLean County Health Department, $32,669 Menard County Health Department, $1,000 Mercer County Health Department, $1,498 Montgomery County Health Department, $2,709 Ogle County Health Department, $1,000 Peoria City/County Health Department, $1,000 Pike County Health Department, $1,000 Rock Island County Health Department, $32,439 Sangamon County Department of Public Health, $10,981 Schuyler County Health Department, $1,000 Springfield Department of Public Health, $24,204 St. Clair County Health Department, $1,000 Stephenson County Health Department, $1,000 Tazewell County Health Department, $1,000 Vermilion County Health Department, $1,000 Wabash County Health Department, $1,666 Washington County Health Department, $1,000 Whiteside County Health Department, $5,360 Will County Health Department, $109,075 Winnebago County Health Department, $24,603 Woodford County Health Department, $1,000 Additional information about West Nile virus can be found on IDPH’s Web site at www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/wnv.htm.