The number of cases of West Nile virus has grown dramatically in recent weeks and public health experts suggest that if the trend continues, this year’s outbreak may rank among the largest in U.S. history.
According to data from state health departments compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 47 states have reported West Nile virus infections in people, birds or mosquitoes so far this year. A total of 1,118 cases of West Nile virus disease in people, including 41 deaths, have been reported to CDC, which is the greatest number of cases reported through this time of year since 1999, when the virus was first detected in the United States.