September 5, 2006

Seventeen new human cases of West Nile virus reported

Clark and Crawford Counties – newest counties reporting positive West Nile virus mosquito sample

SPRINGFIELD, Ill – Seventeen new human cases of West Nile virus have been reported to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) bringing the total this year to 66. New cases include:

• Chicago man in his 40’s with West Nile virus disease
• Cook County female teenager with West Nile fever
• Cook County man in his 40’s with West Nile virus disease
• Cook County man in his 50’s with neuroinvasive disease
• Cook County woman in her 50’s with neuroinvasive disease
• DuPage County man in his 30’s with West Nile fever
• DuPage County man in his 30’s with West Nile virus disease
• DuPage County man in his 50’s with West Nile virus disease
• DuPage County woman in her 50’s with neuroinvasive disease
• DuPage County woman in her 60’s with West Nile fever
• Effingham County man in his 80’s with West Nile fever
• Lake County woman in her 30’s with neuroinvasive disease
• Lake County woman in her 50’s with West Nile fever
• Will County woman in her 30’s with West Nile virus disease
• Will County man in his 60’s with West Nile fever
• Will County woman in her 80’s with West Nile fever
• Woodford County man in his 40’s with neuroinvasive disease

Two people have died so far this year from West Nile virus, a man in his 60’s from Will County and a man in his 80’s from Bond County.

“Although it is after Labor Day and many summer activities, like swimming, are winding down, late summer is the peak for the house mosquito and this is the riskiest time of the year for West Nile virus,” said Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, state public health director. “Don’t let your guard down because of the recent cool temperatures. Make sure to take precautions against mosquito bites when you go outside.”

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.

Clark and Crawford counties are the newest counties reporting positive West Nile virus mosquito samples. On August 29, West Nile virus positive mosquito samples were reported from Dennison, Casey and Marshall. In Crawford County, West Nile virus positive mosquito samples were collected on August 29 in Annapolis and Robinson.

To date, 64 counties out of 102 have reported positive test results for West Nile virus in mosquitoes, birds and horses. A list of those counties can be found on the IDPH 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 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 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.