West Nile Outbreak Exceeds Second-highest Annual Total

The West Nile virus cases in the United States has already exceeded the second-highest annual total with more than 2 months left of the year.  As of Tuesday, there have been 4,531 cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this includes 183 deaths.  This year probably won't be the worst on record unless another 5,000 cases develop.  2003 was the worst year in number of cases; 9,862 illnesses and 264 deaths.  Cooler temperatures lower the risk of mosquito borne illnesses, but mosquito activity will still be high in some regions mainly the south, so it is still important for people to protect themselves.  Important steps to protect yourself from mosquitoes possibly carrying the disease is to avoid going out at dawn and dusk, use bug spray with DEET, wear long pants and sleeves when going outside, get rid of standing water because mosquitoes breed in water, and use screens on windows so mosquitoes cannot get inside.


http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/18/west-nile-outbreak-falls-short-of-2003-numbers/