By AP/KWMU
Springfield, IL – State officials say ten more Illinoisans have been sickened by the West Nile virus.
That means 583 people have been infected with the illness this year.
Officials say this year's epidemic has now surpassed the state's last major outbreak of mosquito-transmitted disease.
They say Illinois recorded 578 human cases of St. Louis encephalitis in 1975.
But state Public Health Director John Lumpkin says there could be good news.
He says a year of high numbers of mosquito-borne disease in one area is often followed by a sizable drop in cases.
Officials say the new cases include five from Chicago, one from suburban Cook County and one each from DuPage, Madison, Macoupin and Montgomery counties.
No new deaths were reported today.