Most Active Stories Shots - Health Blog Wed August 29, 2012 With
West Nile On The Rise, We Answer Your Questions Originally
published on Fri August 31, 2012 9:45 am This year is on track
to be the worst ever for West Nile virus in the United States.
Here are the latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention: - 1,590 reported cases, nearly 500 more than a
week ago for a rise of 44 percent. - 889 cases, or 56 percent,
involve severe neurological disease. - 66 deaths, compared to 41
last week. Every state except Alaska and Hawaii has reported
West Nile virus in people, birds or mosquitoes. "We expect the
number of cases will rise through October," says Dr. Lyle
Petersen, director of the CDC's division of vector-borne
infections. In Texas, the worst-hit state, cases jumped by
nearly 200 over the past week and deaths reached 31, up 10 from
last week. "As I look at the data, I'm not convinced we have
peaked," Texas health commissioner Dr, David Lakey told
reporters on a CDC conference call Wedn