August 1, 2006

FIRST HUMAN CASE OF WEST NILE CONFIRMED IN ADDITION TO POSITIVE BIRD AND MOSQUITO SAMPLES FOUND IN NEW COUNTIES

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A man from St. Clair County is the first Illinois resident this year to be diagnosed with West Nile disease. The St. Clair County man, who is in his 60s, became ill in July and is recovering.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) reports significant West Nile activity in mosquitoes and birds in many parts of the state and now that a human case has been reported, it is important to frequently remind people to protect themselves from mosquito bites.

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 persons out of 10 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. Persons older than 50 years of age have the highest risk of severe disease.

The latest counties to report a positive bird or mosquito sample are Coles and Saline. A grackle bird collected on July 19 in Mattoon by the Coles County Health Department tested positive for West Nile virus, as did one sample of mosquitoes collected in Harrisburg by the Egyptian Health Department. A total 35 counties of 102 Illinois counties have tested positive since surveillance for the mosquito-borne disease began on May 1.

In 2005, Illinois recorded 252 human cases, of West Nile disease, including 12 deaths.

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. 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 bird baths, 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 on the Department’s Web site 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 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.