Sep
5
West Nile Virus Cases in US Reach 2,118
Health officials in the United States has reported that cases of infection due to West Nile virus has reached 2,118, an increase of 25% from last week. Records also indicate 92 deaths.
Lyle Petersen, director of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s division of vector-borne infectious diseases, said that cases will continue to rise “probably into October.”
“This is the highest number of cases reported to the CDC through the first week in September since West Nile virus was first detected in the United States,” Petersen added.
Human cases have been reported in 44 states, with Texas being hit the hardest with 1,013 cases and 40 deaths. Other states with high incidence of West Nile this year include South Dakota, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Michigan, and Louisiana, all of which make up 70 percent of cases.
Human infections have increased this year in part because of the mild winter, early spring, and hot summer, creating perfect conditions for mosquitoes to breed. Mosquitoes carry the virus from the infected birds it feeds on.
Source: USA Today