West Nile cases doubled in past week, CDC says

West Nile

Aug 28, 2003 (CIDRAP News) – The number of West Nile virus cases in the United States this year reached 1,442 yesterday, more than double the total reported a week ago, with 21 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

From Aug 21 through 27, 727 cases were reported from 26 states, the CDC reports in the Aug 29 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. A week ago the agency reported a total of 715 cases, including 14 deaths, for the year.

Colorado continues to have the most cases, with 635, followed by South Dakota, 204; Nebraska, 190; Texas, 106; and New Mexico, 41. The 21 deaths include 6 in Colorado; 4 in Nebraska; 2 each in Alabama, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Texas; and 1 each in Kansas, Mississippi, and Ohio.

Surveillance of West Nile virus cases in animals has detected 910 cases in horses in 32 states and 4,222 dead birds in 39 states, the CDC reports.

CDC. West Nile virus activity—United States, August 21-27, 2003. MMWR 2003;52(34):821-2

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5234a5.htm

See also:

CDC West Nile virus site
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm

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