CHICAGO, Oct 10, 2002 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- Illinois reported three more Chicago-area West Nile deaths on Thursday, bringing the state's total to at least 41 in 661 cases.

As of Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention put the national death toll at 148 in 2,976 cases. No update had been issued by late Thursday.

Illinois Public Health Director Dr. John Lumpkin said that the latest confirmed victims were a 79-year-old Chicago woman who died Sept. 30, a 78-year-old DuPage County man who died Sept. 26 and a 69-year-old Kendall County man who died Tuesday.

Five new cases of the disease also were reported.

Missouri health officials confirmed a fourth death in that state. The latest victim was an 88-year-old suburban St. Louis man who died Sunday.