September 15, 2002

BY JIM RITTER AND BRENDA WARNER ROTZOLL STAFF REPORTERS

The rising death toll caused by the West Nile virus has led the Archdiocese of Chicago to ask visitors to Roman Catholic cemeteries to hold off on an age-old tradition: adorning loved ones' graves with flowers.

Because of the potential for mosquitoes to breed in standing water in pots and vases, on Monday, cemetery officials will begin removing flowers and other decorations at grave sites.

Flowers will be banned until the first frost hits. Only a frost will wipe out this season's mosquitoes, which spread the virus by biting humans after biting infected birds. Illinois leads the nation in both the number of human cases, 358, and deaths, 16, including three in Chicago.

Death probed as possible W. Nile case

BY CARLOS SADOVI STAFF REPORTER

As Morton Grove Mayor Dan Scanlon recuperates from encephalitis caused by the West Nile virus, questions are being raised about the Sept. 5 death of his wife, who also may have had the mosquito-borne illness.

Family members are waiting for word from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta to determine whether the death of Betty Scanlon, 74, was the result of West Nile. A test by doctors at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, where she died, previously had ruled out West Nile, said Peggy Leib, a daughter.

Doctors determined Betty Scanlon died of encephalitis, but officials required another test after her husband tested positive for West Nile.

Betty Scanlon had leukemia, and family members believe it may have contributed to her death, along with her age.

Mayor Scanlon, 78, tested positive for the West Nile virus Aug. 30. His condition is improving, and he began going through rehabilitation Thursday. He was able to briefly attend his wife's funeral mass Friday, his daughter said.

Also on Monday and continuing on Tuesday, the city Department of Public Health will again spray mosquito-killing pesticide in Northwest and Southwest Side neighborhoods where clusters of West Nile cases have occurred. The first round of spraying last week killed half the mosquito population in those areas.

"It seems to be quite effective,'' city public health commissioner John Wilhelm said Saturday.

The decision to remove flowers from the cemeteries was necessary because officials with the South Cook County mosquito abatement district noticed that a hot spot of 34 West Nile cases occurred in and around Oak Lawn and Evergreen Park, home to a dozen cemeteries.

Birds infected with the virus come up the Mississippi flyway, nest in cemetery trees and transmit the virus to mosquitoes that breed in the water in flower vases, said Roman Szabelski, executive director of Catholic Cemeteries.

Khian Liem, director of the South Cook County mosquito abatement district, has "indicated a possible link between the elevated number of cases of West Nile virus and the possible breeding areas available in the cemetery grounds, specifically in the pots and vases used to decorate graves in the cemetery," Szabelski said.

Randy Wisowotay, manager of Queen of Heaven cemetery in Hillside, said vases are no longer built into graves there, but there may be 5,000 older vases there. Signs warning people not to bring in decorations until after the first frost will be posted at entrances and exits, he said.

On Friday, the state increased aid to local mosquito control efforts by $372,000, bringing the year's aid total to more than $1 million.

The Lake County Forest Preserves announced an emergency appropriation of $200,000 to kill mosquito larvae.

Still, officials say the worst of the West Nile virus scare might soon be over.

Virus-carrying mosquitoes will go dormant in a few weeks, and when they begin biting again next summer, it's a good bet fewer people will get sick or die.

In part, that's because it's unlikely the weather will be as ideal for mosquitoes next summer. The pattern in other West Nile outbreaks has been for the number of cases to drop the year after an initial outbreak.

Also, the city of Chicago plans to hit mosquitoes earlier and harder next year.

The virus usually is so mild that a person could be infected and not even know it.

People who have been infected probably are immune for life. A West Nile vaccine and new drugs to fight the virus are being developed.

"It's reasonable to predict the virus will be here next year but won't be as bad," said William Paul, deputy commissioner of the city public health department.

The hot, dry summer was perfect for breeding the type of mosquito, Culex (also known as the Northern house mosquito), that's most likely to carry the virus. But by the end of the month Culex mosquitoes will begin to go dormant for the winter.

Besides leading the nation in West Nile cases and deaths this year, Illinois also led the nation in the 1975 outbreak of St. Louis encephalitis, with 587 cases. The following year, the number plummeted to 19.

The St. Louis virus, which is similar to West Nile virus, is also carried by Culex mosquitoes. A similar drop-off of West Nile cases occurred in New York between 1999 and 2000.

-- Anonymous, September 15, 2002

Answers

Amazing--the Catholic church as doomer. . . Does the church know something we don't?

-- Anonymous, September 15, 2002

Flower POTS aren't an issue (they don't represent a water reservoir). Vases shouldn't be a problem either. It takes at least a week for mosquito larvae to develop, and by then the flowers should be dead anyway. So, ask the families to replace them weekly or announce that they will be tossed weekly.

-- Anonymous, September 16, 2002

'Round here, silk flowers are popular. They're sold at a roadside stand not far away and they come in vases. It's very simple--put holes in the vases (if they're plastic, anyway). If they're glass, put a little vegetable cooking oil in the bottom--the oil will float on any water that collects and the larvae can't breathe. However, to be practical, it's easier and quicker to dispose of ANY flowers put out, unless they are obviously in, say, an open wire container.

-- Anonymous, September 16, 2002