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At least nine people have died from the West Nile virus in the United States this season.
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Arizona, Arkansas, California, Idaho, New Jersey and Texas have each reported one or two deaths related to the disease.
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West Nile virus is usually mild, but can cause paralysis or death in severe cases.
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At least six states have reported deaths from West Nile virus, a mosquito-borne disease that can cause paralysis and swelling in the brain.
Arizona, Arkansas, California, Idaho, New Jersey and Texas have each reported one or two deaths associated with West Nile virus this year, with a total of nine deaths, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as of Jan. 7. September.
All but seven U.S. continental states have reported some form of West Nile virus activity, which could mean infections in mosquitoes, animals, or humans. Twenty-nine states have seen confirmed or probable human cases with symptoms.
West Nile virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental US, but most people who come in contact with the virus do not get sick. Approximately one in five infected people will present with fever and flu-like symptoms, such as headaches, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash.
A handful of cases each year produce more serious illnesses: cases of swelling in the brain, such as meningitis or encephalitis, or even paralysis. This year there have been at least 136 such cases, according to the CDC count, which includes confirmed and probable infections.
State health officials across the country have issued warnings and advice to stay healthy during the West Nile season. Since there is no cure or vaccine against West Nile virus, the best way to prevent infection is by preventing mosquito bites.
Local health departments have reported additional deaths
Some state and county health departments have reported additional deaths associated with West Nile virus prior to CDC data.
The North Dakota Department of Health announced Friday the first state death related to the West Nile virus in 2021, a resident of southwestern North Dakota who was over 60 years old.
The Nebraska Three Rivers Department of Health also reported this week on the death of the West Nile virus. It was the first death from the disease in the state this season.
Older people are at higher risk for serious illness or death from the virus, as are people with compromised immune systems, according to the CDC.
Even states that have only seen a handful of human infections have warned residents at risk to watch out for mosquito bites this season. Massachusetts, with four human cases reported in September, raised the state’s risk level to “high” based on disease activity and recent rainfall.
“September is the month we are most likely to see people infected with West Nile virus,” Margret Cooke, Massachusetts’s commissioner for public health, said in a statement. “While we advise everyone to take steps to prevent mosquito bites, this is especially important if you are over 50 or have an immune disease.”
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