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"This money will go a long way in keeping
Illinoisans, especially the elderly, protected from the 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 symptoms like
West Nile disease. 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 people 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. 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 birdbaths, 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.
[to top of second column in this article] |
 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 Daviess 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 is available at
www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/wnv.htm.
[News release from the governor's
office] |
