Sunday, August 19, 2012

West Nile virus kills 17 in Texas

An outbreak of West Nile virus has killed 17 people in Texas, the US Department of Health has announced.

This year alone 465 cases of this mosquito-borne disease have been recorded in Texas, more than in any other American state.

The American Center for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed a total of 693 cases across the United States. 26 people died as a result of the epidemic. 

Dallas has declared a state of emergency over the spreading of West Nile virus, with Mayor Michael Rawlings asking the authorities to allow for the aerial pesticide spraying in Dallas neighbourhoods to fight mosquitoes.

The West Nile infection is spread predominantly by Culex and Anopheles mosquito genera and is marked by strong fever, sight loss and paralysis.
The infection was first recorded in Uganda in 1937.

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