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First
West Nile virus-related death in Illinois for 2007
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[August 10, 2007]
SPRINGFIELD -- Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, state
public health director, announced Thursday the first death related
to West Nile virus in Illinois for 2007. A 77-year-old Ogle County
man died Wednesday after becoming ill from West Nile virus earlier
this month. The first human case was reported in DuPage County on
June 15. A total of eight human cases of West Nile virus in Illinois
this summer have been reported in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Madison, Ogle
and Tazewell counties.
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"West Nile virus is being
reported throughout Illinois," Whitaker said. "Senior citizens and
those individuals with weak immune systems are especially
vulnerable, so I want to stress the importance of taking the
necessary precautions to protect yourself against mosquito bites.
There are preventive actions you can take to avoid getting West Nile
virus, such as wearing insect repellent with DEET, and I encourage
everyone who goes outside, especially from dusk to dawn, to take
this preventive measure."
Eight counties have reported positive mosquito samples so far
this year: Cook, DuPage, Lake, Lee, Macoupin, Saline, Sangamon and
Tazewell. DuPage and Sangamon counties each have reported one
positive bird.
In 2006, the first human death related to West Nile virus in
Illinois occurred Aug. 23. The first positive mosquito sample was
reported May 24 in DuPage County, and the first human case was
reported Aug. 1 in St. Clair County. Last year, 77 of the state's
102 counties were found to have a West Nile-positive bird, mosquito,
horse or human case. A total of 215 human cases of West Nile
disease, including 10 deaths, were reported last year in Illinois.
Surveillance for West Nile virus in Illinois began May 1 and
includes laboratory tests on mosquitoes, dead crows, blue jays,
robins and other perching birds, as well as the testing of sick
horses and humans with West Nile-like disease symptoms. Citizens who
observe a sick or dying crow, blue jay, robin or other perching bird
should contact their local health department, which will determine
if the bird is to be picked up for testing.
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 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.
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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 take personal precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Precautions include the following:
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Avoid being
outdoors when mosquitoes are most active, especially between
dusk and dawn. Use prevention methods whenever mosquitoes are
present.
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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.
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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.
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Eliminate all
sources of standing water that can support mosquito breeding,
including flowerpots, clogged roof gutters, old tires and any
other receptacles. Change water in birdbaths weekly. Properly
maintain wading pools, and stock ornamental ponds with fish.
Cover rain barrels with 16-mesh wire screen. 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 is available at
www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/wnv.htm, or people can call the
West Nile Virus Hotline at 866-369-9710 Monday through Friday, 8
a.m. to 5 p.m.
Every week during the season, the Illinois Department of Public
Health is distributing news releases updating West Nile virus
activity in the state. Updates throughout the week are available at
www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/
wnvsurveillance07.htm.
[Text from
Illinois
Department of Public Health news release received from the
Illinois Office of Communication and Information]
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