By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews
Maricopa (AZ) County health officials report as of last week, 156 human West Nile virus (WNV) cases to date in 2019. This is the bulk of cases reported in Arizona (168) and approximately a fifth of the national total of cases reported (731).
In all of 2018, only 24 human cases were reported in the county.
In addition, officials report 16 fatalities due to the mosquito-borne virus, accounting for more than four out of 10 deaths reported in the US.
West Nile virus (WNV) is a disease caused by a virus that is spread through mosquito bites. It was first detected in North America in 1999, and has since spread across the continental United States and Canada and is well established. Maricopa County had its first WNV outbreak in 2004.
- Norovirus: 3 Aida Cruises voyages experience outbreaks
- Ethiopia chikungunya outbreak nears 50K cases
- Cambodia reports dramatic increase in dengue in 2019
- Ireland: Leptospirosis cases linked to the Royal Canal in North Dublin
- CDC travel notice: Dengue in Spain and France
- Flu drug, Xofluza, approved for people at high risk of serious flu complications
- 4th death reported in NC Legionnaires’ disease outbreak
