Illinois Public Health Officials Confirm 17 New Cases of WNV

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, state public health director, today announced 17 new West Nile virus cases have been identified in Chicago, suburban Cook and DuPage counties, bringing to 63 the number of cases reported so far this year in the state.

The new cases are:

A 58-year-old woman from Chicago who is hospitalized with West Nile neuroinvasive disease.

A 48-year-old man from Chicago with West Nile fever.

A 76-year-old woman from Chicago who was hospitalized with West Nile neuroinvasive disease.

A 76-year-old man from Chicago who was hospitalized with West Nile neuorinvasive disease.

A 77-year-old man from Chicago who was hospitalized with West Nile neuroinvasive disease.

A 42-year-old woman from suburban Cook County with West Nile disease.

A 69-year-old woman from suburban Cook County who is hospitalized with West Nile neuroinvasive disease.

A 80-year-old woman from suburban Cook County who is hospitalized with West Nile neuroinvasive disease.

A 51-year-old woman from suburban Cook County with West Nile disease.

A 45-year-old woman from suburban Cook County with West Nile neuroinvasive disease.

A 54-year-old man from suburban Cook County who is hospitalized with West Nile fever.

A 48-year-old man from suburban Cook County who was hospitalized with West Nile neuroinvasive disease.

A 55-year-old man from DuPage County who is hospitalized with West Nile neuroinvasive disease.

A 56-year-old man from DuPage County who was hospitalized with West Nile fever.

A 87-year-old man from DuPage County who is hospitalized with West Nile fever.

A 51-year- old woman from DuPage County with West Nile fever.

There have been 25 other cases of West Nile disease this year in suburban Cook County. The states other cases of West Nile disease have been from Chicago (9), DuPage (5), Kane (5), Peoria (1), and Will (1) counties.

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.

A total of 63 humans, 167 birds, 1,472 mosquito samples, one horse and one llama from 36 counties have tested positive for West Nile virus since surveillance for the mosquito-borne disease began on May 1.

In 2004, Illinois recorded 60 human cases of West Nile disease, including four deaths, and in 2003, there were 54 human cases, including one death. The state led the nation in 2002 with 884 human cases of West Nile disease and 67 deaths.

Because West Nile virus activity in Culex mosquitoes increases during hot weather, personal protection against mosquitoes is particularly important during August and September.

Source: Illinois Department of Public Health