Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 8, 2013
CONTACT:
Melaney Arnold (217) 558-0500
www.idph.state.il.us

State Health Department Awards West Nile Virus Prevention Grants

2012 saw the second highest number of West Nile virus cases in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health awarded West Nile virus grants totaling $3.4 million to 90 certified local health departments throughout Illinois. The grants are based on West Nile virus activity surveillance for the previous three years, along with population. Local health departments will use the funding to enhance prevention programs that include testing of birds and mosquitoes for West Nile virus, and to control larval mosquitoes. The grants may also be used to provide information to the public and investigate human West Nile virus cases.
“Last year, Illinois experienced the second highest number of human West Nile virus cases, second only to the 2002 outbreak,” said Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck. “Our local health departments around the state are on the front lines in the fight against West Nile virus and it is important they have the resources necessary to monitor mosquito activity, take steps to reduce the mosquito population and investigate human infections.”
For the 2012 season, Illinois reported 290 human cases of West Nile disease and 12 deaths. The state followed a nationwide trend and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ranked fourth in the country for the total number of human cases. The age range for Illinois cases was nine to 89 years with roughly 78 percent of the cases in people 45 years and older.
Last summer we saw hot, dry conditions, which often results in more West Nile virus cases. Although people usually notice mosquitoes during rainy conditions, those mosquitoes are what are commonly called floodwater mosquitoes and typically do not carry West Nile disease. In hot, dry weather, mosquitoes that carry West Nile disease breed in stagnant water, like street catch basins and ditches, and multiply rapidly.
As temperatures warm up, remember to take some simple precautions to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and protect yourself from being bitten. Precautions include practicing the three “R’s” – reduce, repel and report.
  • REDUCE exposure - avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are most active, especially between dusk and dawn.
    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 where mosquitoes can breed, including water in bird baths, ponds, flowerpots, wading pools, old tires and any other receptacles.
  • REPEL - when outdoors, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, and apply insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR 3535, according to label instructions. Consult a physician before using repellents on infants.
  • REPORT – beginning May 1, report dead birds to your local health department. In communities where there are organized mosquito control programs, contact your municipal government about areas of stagnant water in roadside ditches, flooded yards and similar locations that may produce mosquitoes.
Additional information about West Nile virus can be found by logging onto www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/wnv.htm.
Health Department Grant Amount
Adams County $18,354
Bond County $14,849
Boone County $15,261
Brown County $8,399
Bureau County $14,235
Calhoun County $10,153
Carroll County $12,463
Cass County $11,000
Champaign County $22,795
Champaign-Urbana Public $28,760
Chicago $672,444
Christian County $11,000
Clark County $10,000
Clay County $11,416
Clinton County $12,137
Coles County $14,281
Cook County $624,294
Crawford County $12,301
DeKalb County $22,069
Dewitt-Piatt $3,322
Douglas County $12,000
DuPage County $236,654
Eastside Health District $22,166
Edgar County $11,000
Effingham County $12,000
Egyptian $15,277
Evanston $10,000
Ford-Iroquois $16,148
Franklin-Williamson $17,673
Fulton County $14,232
Greene County $11,418
Grundy County $16,741
Hancock County $11,575
Henderson County $11,441
Henry County $16,781
Jackson County $21,655
Jasper County $10,292
Jefferson County $10,000
Jersey County $12,692
Jo Daviess County $8,000
Kane County $138,245
Kankakee County $30,190
Kendall County $27,723
Knox County $17,011
Lake County $154,572
LaSalle County $22,788
Lawrence County $10,000
Lee County $15,412
Livingston County $15,688
Logan County $13,825
Macon County $22,489
Macoupin County $19,658
Madison County $37,500
Marion County $13,857
Marshall County $11,381
Mason County $11,000
McDonough County $11,000
McHenry County $87,649
McLean County $39,188
Mercer County $12,495
Monroe County $11,992
Montgomery County $14,851
Morgan County $10,193
Moultrie County $10,000
Oak County $10,000
Ogle County $3,000
Peoria County $37,556
Perry County $10,000
Putnam County $11,362
Randolph County $12,000
Rock Island County $32,219
Sangamon County $43,661
Schuyler County $11,500
Shelby County $12,000
Skokie $5,000
Southern Seven $17,535
St. Clair County $45,134
Stark County $11,180
Stephenson County $16,518
Stickney $10,000
Tazewell County $30,553
Vermilion County $19,730
Wabash County $10,000
Warren County $11,533
Washington County $11,443
Wayne County $10,505
Whiteside County $17,539
Will County $178,008
Winnebago County $71,842
Woodford County $14,328
Total $3,470,128
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idph online home

Illinois Department of Public Health
535 West Jefferson Street
Springfield, Illinois 62761
Phone 217-782-4977
Fax 217-782-3987
TTY 800-547-0466
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