ATLANTA, Oct 09, 2002 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- The death toll from West Nile virus Wednesday was at least 148 in 2,796 cases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.

Illinois, which has the highest caseload in the nation, reported 38 deaths in 656 cases with the deaths of an 83-year-old Kendall County man and a 61-year-old Springfield woman. The mosquito-borne disease has spread to 45 of the state's 102 counties, public health director Dr. John Lumpkin said.

Mississippi boosted its death toll to nine in 171 cases with the death of a Holly Bluff man. James Sumrall was sickened in August and died Sunday.

Texas reported two West Nile deaths in the Houston area, bringing that state's total to four. The latest victims were a 75-year-old woman and 68-year-old man.

Indiana reported two more possible West Nile deaths bringing the total to a suspected seven, although the CDC has yet to confirm any of the cases.

The first probable case of West Nile in the Los Angeles area was reported in a 70-year-old man who had traveled to Nebraska. He has since recovered. The state earlier reported one other non-fatal case, that of a San Francisco-area man who had traveled to Chicago.