West Nile Reports Continue to Rise Across the US

It’s summertime and the reported number of West Nile virus cases is on the rise.

The virus has been reported in several states, including two counties Tennessee, Arizona, and in Washington. In Tennessee, two county health departments collected nearly 1,000 infected mosquitoes at a single location while in the state of Washington, only one has been identified. In Maricopa County, Arizona, where an estimated 100 infected mosquitoes were identified as having the virus, the death of an elderly woman has been reported as being caused by the virus.

The West Nile Virus is a disease typically affecting animals, but can be transmitted to humans through mosquitoes. The potentially deadly disease most often mimics flu symptoms, manifesting itself with a cough, chills, and fever. The virus may also cause paralysis, convulsions, a stiff neck, and coma. West Nile may also be accompanied by meningitis or encephalitis. In 2009, 663 cases of humans infected with West Nile were reported and over half of those cases accompanied by meningitis or encephalitis

Health officials are urging people to take caution when outdoors, avoiding mosquito infested areas, eliminating possible mosquito infestations such as standing pools of water, wearing light colored clothing, and wearing mosquito repellent.