In this May 11, 2007 , file photo, Scott Sawlis sorts mosquitos according to species and gender before testing them at a the county mosquito lab in Dallas. Health officials say 2012 was the worst for West Nile deaths since the virus was reported in the country over a decade ago. The final tally reported Monday, May 13, 2013, was 286 deaths or two more than the previous record set in 2002. But there were far fewer illnesses overall, and fewer serious cases than in many previous years. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
U.S. health officials say last year was the worst ever for West Nile virus deaths.
The final tally reported Monday was 286 deaths—or two more than the record set in 2002.
But there were far fewer illnesses overall, and fewer serious cases than in previous years.
The CDC report Monday showed Texas had nearly a third of the serious cases, and about a third of the deaths.
West Nile virus was first diagnosed in Uganda in 1937, but no cases were reported in the U.S. until 1999 in New York. It gradually spread to the West Coast.
Citation:
Deaths from West Nile virus hit record last year (2013, May 13)
retrieved 6 May 2024
from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-deaths-west-nile-virus-year.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no
part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.
