West Nile outbreak closer to being second worst in U.S

DALLAS (Reuters) – The outbreak of West Nile disease in the United States moved a step closer on Wednesday to becoming the second worst on record with federal health authorities reporting 280 cases of the virus-caused illness over the past week. There have now been 4,249 cases of West Nile recorded this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 20 cases fewer than in 2006, the second-largest outbreak on record. The number of deaths rose by five to 168 since last week, the CDC said. …

U.S. West Nile cases, deaths jump in latest week

A Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito is seen in this undated handout photoDALLAS (Reuters) – The number of U.S. West Nile virus infections has jumped more than 60 percent in the past week, putting this year's outbreak on track to be the worst on record, and federal health officials are stumped by its severity. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control on Wednesday said 1,118 cases and 41 deaths have been reported so far this year, up from fewer than 700 cases and 26 deaths just one week ago. That is the highest number of West Nile virus infections reported through the third week of August since the virus was first detected in the United States in 1999, the CDC said. …