CDC allocates more money to West Nile fight in Illinois

CHICAGO -- The federal government has given the city of Chicago and the state an additional $680,500 to help battle the West Nile virus amid expectations that the number of human cases will continue to rise in the next couple of weeks.

The number of cases in Illinois increased Wednesday to 79, as state health officials announced eight more people had tested positive for the virus.

The grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides $280,000 to the city and $400,506 to the state of Illinois, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley announced at a news conference Wednesday. The money will help local and state officials attack areas where West Nile-spreading mosquitoes breed as well as assist efforts to diagnose the virus and educate the public about the disease.

The new money raises the amount of federal support this year to $460,000 for Chicago and $700,000 for the state.

Through Tuesday, there have been 453 West Nile cases in 20 states, with 21 fatalities reported, officials said. Illinois has reported 79 human cases of West Nile this year, the third-highest in the nation behind Louisiana and Mississippi. Two West Nile-related deaths reported Tuesday brought to four the number of fatal human cases in the state.