Health Officials Report Two More West Nile Deaths

September 12, 2006
Associated Press

A DuPage County woman in her 80s and a Sangamon County man in his 90s have died, the Illinois Department of Health reported Tuesday. This year's previous West Nile deaths were in Will, Bond and Cook counties. All the victims have been older than 60. Late summer usually brings a spike in West Nile infections, said Dr. Eric Whitaker, the state's public health director. "Despite the cooler temperatures, we're still seeing an increase of West Nile virus cases," Whitaker said in a statement. So far this year, 113 people have been sickened by the virus, according to reports received by the health department. Last year, there were 252 cases and 12 deaths. Health officials say about two out of ten people who are bitten by an infected mosquito will get sick. People older than 50 are at highest risk for the most severe disease. Risk can be reduced by using insect repellant and wearing long sleeves and long pants. But health officials advise consulting a doctor before using repellant on infants.

September 5, 2006

ORLANDO, Florida - A missing runner was rescued from a Florida swamp after spending four days stuck in the muck with only the waist-deep swamp water to drink. His first request: some good, old-fashioned drinking water.

Eddie Meadows, 62, had left for a run over his lunch hour Thursday but never returned to his office at a nearby University of Central Florida research park, authorities said.

He was spotted among the brush and trees Monday morning as 50 friends and colleagues searched for him.

Meadows, who was parched and covered with bug bites, had consumed swamp water to stay hydrated during the four-day ordeal, said university police Sgt. Woody Furnas. Furnas said the area has thick silt and muck that can act like glue.

"He had great spirits, and he was very adamant about getting a drink of water," Furnas said. "He said he slept a lot and stayed down in the water."

A hospital spokeswoman would not discuss Meadows' condition but the Orlando Sentinel reported that Meadows underwent extra blood tests for possible infections from the swamp water.

Furnas described Meadows, a contract employee with the U.S. Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation, as "a strong guy. He's in good shape. He's a marathoner."

Ron Eaglin, a UCF computer-engineering professor, found Eaglin in the heavy brush, and then called 911 to report the location.

"I really thought we were looking for a body," Eaglin told the Orlando Sentinel. "I was very happy when it wasn't a body we found."

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