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County sees first case of West Nile for 2007
By Paul Swiech
pswiech@pantagraph.com
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BLOOMINGTON — McLean County has its first bird case of West Nile virus for 2007, meaning Central Illinois residents should continue to take precautions against the potentially fatal disease, the county health department said Friday.

A dead crow collected in northeast Normal has been confirmed as positive for the virus, said Bree Davis, health department public health communications specialist.

While the county has no confirmed human cases of West Nile this year, the disease found in the bird shows it’s still possible for people to get West Nile, Davis said.

“We know that it’s out there and it (a human case) is a probability,” she said.

Davis noted that McLean County’s three human West Nile cases last year happened in September. In 2005, four county residents got West Nile and two of them died.

“Everyone should take the proper precautions to reduce their risk of mosquito bites,” health department director Bob Keller said in a prepared statement.

Among precautions are: Limiting time outdoors between dusk and dawn; covering as much of your skin as possible and wearing insect repellent with DEET when outdoors; repairing torn window screens; and dumping all standing water outside.

West Nile is transmitted to people from infected mosquitoes which get the virus by feeding on infected birds. Mild cases of the disease can cause brain inflammation, a slight fever or headache. More severe infections can cause high fever with head and body aches, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, and, in most severe cases, paralysis or death.

Statewide, 19 people have tested positive for West Nile this year, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Thirty-one counties have reported humans, birds or mosquitoes with the virus, including Woodford, Tazewell, LaSalle and Champaign counties in Central Illinois, the department said.

McLean County residents who find recently dead birds with no obvious signs of trauma should call the health department at (309) 888-5482.

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Reader comments on this story - 5 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

al wrote on Sep 7, 2007 9:50 PM:

" why have the truth when media hysteria is so much better "

To Bad wrote on Sep 7, 2007 5:04 PM:

" It would be educational for us to hear what the real life experience of this virus is like. "

al wrote on Sep 7, 2007 4:39 PM:

" this is the current hysteria the media is trying to hype up.lol evertime i read about a case "

Bad wrote on Sep 7, 2007 4:25 PM:

" I had West Nile very bad last August. I'm finally getting over the virus a year later! Be careful! "

Headline wrote on Sep 7, 2007 4:12 PM:

" The headline is misleading. Makes me a-s-sume it's a person "
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