West Nile claims two more in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Two 87-year-old women have died from the West Nile virus, bringing the state's death toll to 35, health officials said Wednesday.

The latest victims of West Nile encephalitis are an 87-year-old woman from Chicago who was hospitalized and died Tuesday, and an 87-year-old woman from Fulton County who was hospitalized Sept. 19 and died Sept. 27.

Illinois has the most deaths from West Nile in the nation.

The state reported 15 new human cases of West Nile -- including the first case in Menard County -- which brings the total number of illnesses to 614. Human cases have been identified in 43 of the state's 102 counties.

This is the largest outbreak of a mosquito-borne disease in Illinois since 1917, when 2,300 people contracted malaria.

Most people who get infected with the virus either have no symptoms or develop only mild ones. Some people -- especially those who are older -- may develop a more severe form of the disease, such as encephalitis or meningitis.

Officials expect the West Nile problem will subside when a hard frost ends the mosquito season.