West Nile virus claims another life

Fulton, Jasper and Moultrie counties report positive bird or mosquito samples

[SEPT. 16, 2006]  SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois Department of Public has received a report of another death from West Nile. A Chicago woman in her 80s has died from neuroinvasive disease.

Five 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, a woman in her 90s from Cook County, a DuPage County woman in her 80s and a Sangamon County man in his 90s.

A total of 135 human cases of West Nile virus, including the latest death, have been reported to the Department of Public Health this year. New cases include:

• Chicago man in his 50s with West Nile fever

• Chicago man in his 60s with neuroinvasive disease

• Chicago woman in her 60s with neuroinvasive disease

• Cook County woman in her 30s with neuroinvasive disease

• Cook County man in his 30s with West Nile fever

• Cook County man in his 50s with West Nile fever

• Cook County woman in her 60s with neuroinvasive disease

• DeKalb County woman in her 70s with West Nile fever

• DuPage County woman in her 30s with West Nile fever

• Two DuPage County women in their 30s with neuroinvasive disease

• DuPage County man in his 40s with neuroinvasive disease

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

• DuPage County man in his 50s with neuroinvasive disease

• DuPage County woman in her 80s with West Nile fever

• Jo Daviess County man in his 60s with neuroinvasive disease

• Lake County woman in her 40s with neuroinvasive disease

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

• Moultrie County woman in her 50s with neuroinvasive disease

• Ogle County man in his 40s with neuroinvasive disease

• Will County woman in her 40s with West Nile fever

"The West Nile season is not done and mosquitoes are not gone. Although we're approaching the end of summer, I still urge everyone to take precaution and protect yourselves from mosquitoes," said Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, state public health director. "A little bit of prevention can go a long way to avoiding the possible effects of mosquito bites."

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.

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.

Fulton, Jasper and Moultrie counties are the latest counties reporting positive West Nile bird or mosquito samples. On Sept. 6, a positive mosquito sample was collected in Canton by the Fulton County Health Department and in Newton by Jasper County Health Department. Also on Sept. 6, the Moultrie County Health Department reported that a positive blue jay was collected in Sullivan.

By Thursday, 77 counties out of 102 had reported positive test results for West Nile virus in mosquitoes, birds and horses. A list of those counties 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.

For additional information about West Nile virus, call the West Nile Virus Hotline at 866-369-9710 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or visit www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/wnv.htm.

[Illinois Department of Public Health news release]