Summertime: outdoors and mosquito time      

West Nile surveillance under way

[JUNE 20, 2005]  Health officials are once again monitoring the presence of West Nile virus. The virus, which acts like encephalitis, is transmitted via the mosquito. Since its recognition in 1999 the disease has rapidly worked its way westward across the United States. The Midwest peak was in 2002. The number of West Nile human cases in Illinois dropped from 60 reported cases and four deaths in 2003 to 54 reported and one death in 2004.

Drier conditions and fewer mosquitoes may be an advantage in reducing the number of cases seen in 2005. Mark Hilliard of the Logan County Health Department said that there have been no human cases in Logan County so far this year, but they have sent off a couple of dead birds for testing.

Nor has Illinois reported a human case yet.

[2005 Illinois West Nile virus surveillance data]

According the Illinois Department of Health, most people who contract West Nile virus will not show symptoms. The elderly and people with a compromised immune system, such as those undergoing chemotherapy, are at risk of developing more serious illness. Symptoms may appear in a variety of combinations from slight fever, headache, rash, swollen nodes and conjunctivitis (irritation of the eye) to the rapid onset of a severe headache, high fever, stiff neck, disorientation, muscle weakness, coma or death.

The Illinois Department of Public Health makes the following recommendations to prevent the spread of West Nile:

The best way to prevent West Nile encephalitis or any other mosquito-borne illness is to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and neighborhood and to take personal precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Here are some suggestions:

• Stay indoors at dawn, dusk and early evening. If outdoors at these times, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Loose-fitting, light-colored clothing is best.

• When it is necessary to be outdoors, apply insect repellent as indicated on the repellent label. The more DEET a product contains, the longer the repellant can protect against mosquito bites. However, concentrations higher than 50 percent do not increase the length of protection. For most situations, 10 percent to 25 percent DEET is adequate. Apply repellents to clothes whenever possible; apply sparingly to exposed skin if label permits. Consult a physician before using repellents on young children.
• Eliminate stagnant water in birdbaths, ponds, flowerpots, wading pools, old tires and any other receptacles in which mosquitoes might breed
• Check for and repair any tears in residential screens, including porches and patios.

Where do I call if I need more information on West Nile virus?

Call your local health department or call the Illinois Department of Public Health at [phone].

For more West Nile virus information on the Web, visit:

• Illinois Department of Public Health site
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's West Nile virus site

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