CDC Issues West Nile Warning
Cases of the West Nile Virus are spiking, prompting the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue a warning about the mosquito-born illness.
The CDC reports 241 cases of West Nile across the US.
About two-thirds of involve neuroinvasive disease, explains the CDC’s Stephanie Yendell.
“That’s disease that is an infection that causes a swelling of the lining of the brain or a swelling of the brain itself. This is the largest number of cases that we’ve seen of this since 2004 as of this time of year.”
Texas, Mississippi and Oklahoma are seeing the greatest outbreak.
According to state health data, the southeast part of the state has seen five West Nile cases in animals and mosquito pools, but none in humans. However, officials with the state health department say two cases total have been reported in Cobb and Douglass Counties. [Note: story updated with corrected information]
The CDC says the best protection against the virus is to use insect repellents, install or repair window screens, and empty standing water where mosquitos breed.
9(MDAxODM0MDY4MDEyMTY4NDA3MzI3YjkzMw004))
Top Stories
