June 24, 1997

SPRINGFIELD, IL — The Illinois Department of Public Health has awarded grants totaling $246,442 to 22 local health departments for surveillance and control of Asian tiger mosquitoes and other container-breeding mosquitoes.

"The grants will help local health departments develop and administer vector control programs that will be used to evaluate the threat to the public's health from viruses carried by mosquitoes," said Dr. John R. Lumpkin, state public health director.

The grants are awarded based on several factors, including the presence of the Asian tiger mosquito, large or numerous used tire sites, past cases of mosquito-borne encephalitis, geographic region and population size.

Surveillance and control efforts will include identification of sites where tires have been stored or discarded; cleanup of noncommercial tire sites; if necessary, legal action to force cleanup; and sampling mosquitoes found in tires for the presence of viruses.

The grant money awarded by the Department comes from its share of the state's Used Tire Management Fund. Money for the fund is generated by a $1 per new tire fee.

Following is a list of grant recipients and amounts:

• Champaign-Urbana Public Health District $ 7,735

• Chicago Department of Public Health 60,000

• Clinton County Health Department 5,797

• East Side Health District 25,000

• Egyptian Health Department 8,000

• Greene County Health Department 2,400

• Jackson County Health Department 6,836

• Jasper County Health Department 8,000

• Jo Daviess County Health Department 10,119

• Kankakee County Health Department 11,600

• Knox County Health Department 4,145

• LaSalle County Health Department 9,996

• Macoupin County Health Department 7,000

• Marion County Health Department 2,000

• McHenry County Health Department 3,089

• Peoria City/County Health Department 11,000

• Southern Seven Health Department 20,900

• Springfield Department of Public Health 3,000

• St. Clair County Health Department 12,000

• Stephenson County Health Department 10,000

• Tazewell County Health Department 9,825

• Woodford County Health Department 8,000

The Asian tiger mosquito has been identified in 14 Illinois counties -- Alexander, Cook, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Kankakee, Macoupin, Madison, Massac, Pulaski, Randolph, St. Clair, Union and Williamson. It is a persistent and aggressive daytime-biting mosquito that breeds in containers that hold water, such as tires, cans and yard ornaments.

The Asian tiger mosquito, which arrived in the United States in 1985, apparently in used tires shipped from Japan, has been found to carry viruses that can be transmitted to humans. However, there are no documented cases of the Asian tiger mosquito spreading disease to a human in the continental United States.

Container-breeding mosquitoes, such as the tree-hole mosquito and the northern house mosquito, are known to transmit diseases to humans. California (LaCrosse) encephalitis is spread by the tree-hole mosquito and St. Louis encephalitis is transmitted by the northern house mosquito.

California and St. Louis encephalitis are serious diseases that affect the brain. California encephalitis occurs more often in children, while St. Louis encephalitis is more common among adults. Most victims recover fully, although some may have permanent neurological damage.

There were 13 confirmed cases of California encephalitis reported in Illinois last year, but no cases of St. Louis encephalitis.

Symptoms of both diseases are similar and usually begin five to 15 days following a bite by an infected mosquito. The symptoms range from a slight fever or headache to rapid onset of severe headache, high fever, muscle aches, stiffness in the back of the neck and disorientation.

The tree-hole mosquito is infected with California encephalitis virus by feeding on infected small mammals or when an infected female mosquito transmits the infection to her offspring. The house mosquito is infected with St. Louis encephalitis by feeding on birds that carry the virus.

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