 About West Nile Virus
West Nile virus first emerged in the United States in the New
York metropolitan area in the fall of 1999. Since then, the virus,
which can be transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected
mosquito, has quickly spread across the country and, this year,
reached California.
Mild cases of West Nile infections may cause a slight fever or
headache. More severe infections are marked by a rapid onset of
a high fever with head and body aches, disorientation, tremors,
convulsions and, in the most severe cases, paralysis or death.
Usually symptoms occur from three to 14 days after the bite of
an infected mosquito. Persons at the highest risk for serious illness
are those 50 years of age or older.
The best way to prevent West
Nile encephalitis and other mosquito-borne illnesses is to reduce
the number of mosquitoes around your home
and neighborhood and to take personal precautions to avoid mosquito
bites.
Click here to download the West Nile National Pest Alert from
USDA.
Incidences in Illinois
In Illinois, West Nile virus was first identified
in September 2001 when laboratory tests confirmed its presence
in two dead crows found
in the Chicago metropolitan area. In 2002, birds, mosquitoes
and horses in 100 of the state's 102 counties were reported positive
for West Nile virus and the first human cases and deaths from
West
Nile virus illness in Illinois were reported in August 2002.
By the end of the year, the state lead the nation with more than
800 human
cases and 62 deaths. The Illinois Department of Public Health
(IDPH) maintains a sophisticated disease surveillance system to
monitor
animals and insects that can potentially carry the virus: dead
crows and blue jays, mosquitoes and horses. Mosquitoes can either
carry
the virus or get it by feeding on infected birds. The surveillance
system also includes infectious disease physicians, hospital
laboratory directors and infection control practitioners, local
health departments
and staff from IDPH's laboratory, environmental health and infectious
diseases divisions who test for and report suspect or confirmed
cases of various diseases that can be caused by mosquito-borne
viruses.
Human Cases in Illinois
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Click on map thumbnail to view more detailed
version. |
Cases and Deaths by County
| Adams |
1 |
0 |
| Champaign |
2 |
0 |
| Clark |
2 |
0 |
| Clinton |
6 |
0 |
| Coles |
1 |
0 |
| Cook - (Suburban
Cook 407, Chicago 227) |
634 |
37 |
| Crawford |
3 |
0 |
| Cumberland |
3 |
0 |
| DeKalb |
2 |
0 |
| DeWitt |
1 |
0 |
| DuPage |
49 |
3 |
| Edgar |
2 |
1 |
| Effingham |
7 |
1 |
| Ford |
1 |
0 |
| Fulton |
8 |
3 |
| Hancock |
1 |
0 |
| Henderson |
2 |
0 |
| Henry |
1 |
0 |
| Jackson |
6 |
1 |
| Jasper |
2 |
0 |
| Jefferson |
1 |
1 |
| Kane |
9 |
1 |
| Kankakee |
1 |
0 |
| Kendall |
2 |
1 |
| Knox |
1 |
1 |
| Lake |
8 |
1 |
| LaSalle |
11 |
0 |
| Logan |
1 |
0 |
| Macon |
9 |
3 |
| Macoupin |
6 |
0 |
| Madison |
14 |
2 |
| Marion |
1 |
0 |
| Mason |
1 |
0 |
| McLean |
3 |
0 |
| McHenry |
1 |
0 |
| Menard |
1 |
0 |
| Montgomery |
4 |
0 |
| Moultrie |
1 |
1 |
| Peoria |
6 |
0 |
| Rock Island |
2 |
0 |
| Saline |
1 |
0 |
| Sangamon |
13 |
4 |
| Shelby |
3 |
0 |
| St. Clair |
14 |
0 |
| Stark |
1 |
0 |
| Stephenson |
1 |
0 |
| Tazewell |
1 |
0 |
| Vermilion |
3 |
0 |
| White |
1 |
1 |
| Whiteside |
1 |
0 |
| Will |
18 |
0 |
| Williamson |
2 |
0 |
| Winnebago |
1 |
0 |
Cases by Age and Sex
| 0-14 |
9 |
9 |
18 |
2.05 |
| 15-29 |
29 |
25 |
54 |
6.15 |
| 30-44 |
89 |
100 |
189 |
21.55 |
| 45-59 |
102 |
127 |
229 |
26.11 |
| 60-74 |
111 |
96 |
207 |
23.60 |
| 75+ |
89 |
88 |
177 |
20.18 |
| Unknown |
3 |
0 |
3 |
0.34 |
Source: Illinois Department of Public Health
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