West Nile virus claims two more lives in Illinois         

Douglas County newest county reporting positive West Nile virus bird sample

[SEPT. 13, 2006]  SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois Department of Public Health has received reports of two deaths from West Nile. A DuPage County woman in her 80s died due to neuroinvasive disease, and a Sangamon county man in his 90s, previously reported to have West Nile, has died.

Three other people also have died this year from West Nile virus: a man in his 60s from Will County, a man in his 80s from Bond County and a woman in her 90s from Cook County.

Nineteen new human cases of West Nile virus have been reported to Illinois Department of Public Health, bringing the total this year to 114. (The DuPage County death is also a new report.) Other new cases include:

• Cook County man in his 20s of West Nile disease

• Cook County man in his 50s with neuroinvasive disease

• Cook County woman in her 60s with neuroinvasive disease

• Cook County woman in her 70s with neuroinvasive disease

• Cook County man in his 70s with neuroinvasive disease

• DuPage County man in his 40s with West Nile disease

• DuPage County woman in her 40s with neuroinvasive disease

• DuPage County man in his 80s with neuroinvasive disease

• Two DuPage County women in their 80s with neuroinvasive disease

• Lake County woman in her 40s with neuroinvasive disease

• Macoupin County man in his 40s with West Nile fever

• McHenry County woman in her 30s with West Nile disease

• McHenry County woman in her 40s with neuroinvasive disease

• Stephenson County woman in her 50s with neuroinvasive disease

• Will County male teenager with neuroinvasive disease

• Will County man in his 40s with neuroinvasive disease

• Will County woman in her 50s with neuroinvasive disease

• Will County man in his 60s with West Nile disease

"Despite the cooler temperatures, we're still seeing an increase of West Nile virus cases. It's not uncommon, since we usually see a peak during late summer. Make sure you protect yourselves and encourage your loved ones to take precaution against mosquito bites," said Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, state public health director.

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 out of 10 people who are bitten by an infected mosquito will experience any illness. Illness from West Nile disease is usually mild and includes fever, headache and body aches, but serious illness, such as encephalitis and meningitis, and death are possible. People older than 50 years of age have the highest risk of severe disease.

The Douglas County Health Department reported that a positive crow was collected on Sept. 6 in Tuscola.

To date, 77 counties out of 102 have reported positive test results for West Nile virus in mosquitoes, birds and horses. A list of counties with positive results for West Nile is available on the Department of Public Health website.

Individuals can reduce their risk of West Nile illness and other mosquito-borne diseases by taking these precautions:

• Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are most active, especially between dusk and dawn.

• 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.

Additional information about West Nile virus can be found at www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/wnv.htm, or call the West Nile Virus Hotline at 866-369-9710 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

[Illinois Department of Public Health news release]