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June 15, 2007
News media calls to David Hass at (630) 682-7979, ext. 7374.
DuPage County
Health Department reports
First human West Nile case in Illinois in 2007
The DuPage County Health Department is reporting the first human West Nile
virus case in Illinois for 2007. The Illinois Department of Public Health
said it has confirmed through laboratory tests this first case. The
Woodridge woman is 55 years old and became ill earlier this month.
“Typically we don’t receive reports of human West Nile virus cases in
Illinois until July, however, DuPage County has reported positive West Nile
virus mosquito samples this year,” said Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, Illinois
Department of Public Health Director. “This should serve as a reminder that
you need to protect yourself against mosquito bites now.”
Positive mosquito samples reported this year include DuPage County on May 8,
Tazewell County on May 17 and Cook County on May 24.
In 2006, 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.
DuPage County reported 42 human cases of West Nile last year.
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. DuPage County residents who observe a sick or
dying crow, blue jay, robin or other perching bird should contact their
nearest public health center by calling (630) 682-7400, 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 persons out of 10 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. Persons older than 50 years of age
have the highest risk of severe disease.
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 to take
personal precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Precautions include:
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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.
- 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 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.
Public health officials
believe that a hot summer could increase mosquito activity and the risk of
disease from West Nile virus.
Additional information about West Nile virus can be found on the
department’s web site at
http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/wnv.htm or people can call
the West Nile Virus Hotline at (866) 369-9710 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday
through Friday.
The state health department will send news releases updating West Nile virus
activity in the state every Wednesday during the season. Updates throughout
the week can be found on the department web site.
“We promote health, prevent illness and provide
quality service”
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