West Nile Death Toll Now 118

Luke 21:11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.

The death toll from West Nile virus broke into the triple digits last week as another 30% increase in cases is being reported by health officials.

On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported at least 2,636 cases of the virus with a confirmed 118 fatalities. The totals are the highest recorded by the second week of September since 2003 when public health officials launched an aggressive random testing campaign.

“We still believe that this year’s outbreak is the largest to date and certainly the most serious,” Dr. Lyle Petersen, the CDC’s Director of the Vector-Borne Infectious Disease Division, stated in the report.

The CDC states they believe that despite the increase in reported cases the outbreak likely peaked in mid to late August and that reports of the disease should fade during October as in other West Nile outbreaks.

Officials are asking citizens in areas at risk for West Nile to repair screens on windows and doors, drain standing water and to wear long sleeve shirts and long pants during dusk and dawn when mosquitos are most active.

 

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