DALLAS (AP) — Federal health officials say the current West Nile outbreak is one of the largest in the U.S., with four times the usual number of cases for this time of year.
So far, 1,118 illnesses have been reported, about half of them in Texas. That's the most ever by this time of year according to health officials. Normally, fewer than 300 cases are reported by mid-August. There have also been 41 deaths this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.
Cases seem to be accelerating, with about 400 of the cases reported in the last week.
Experts think the mild winter, early spring and very hot summer helped stimulate mosquito breeding and the spread of the virus.
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265-a-08-(Maria Arita (ah-REE'-tah), Dallas County spokeswoman, in AP interview)-"I-30 and Ferris"-Dallas County spokeswoman Maria Arita says the county is beginning "phase-2" of aerial spraying to combat West Nile virus. (22 Aug 2012)
<<CUT *265 (08/22/12)>> 00:08 "I-30 and Ferris"
268-a-15-(Maria Arita (ah-REE'-tah), Dallas County spokeswoman, in AP interview)-"and state epidemiologists"-Dallas County spokeswoman Maria Arita says after this latest round of spraying, officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be assessing the situation. (22 Aug 2012)
<<CUT *268 (08/22/12)>> 00:15 "and state epidemiologists"
226-a-10-(Tom Skinner, spokesman, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in AP interview)-"back in 1999"-CDC spokesman Tom Skinner says there is an unusually high number of West Nile cases. (22 Aug 2012)
<<CUT *226 (08/22/12)>> 00:10 "back in 1999"
227-a-09-(Tom Skinner, spokesman, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in AP interview)-"to previous years"-CDC spokesman Tom Skinner says it's not clear why there's been a jump in the number of West Nile cases this year. (22 Aug 2012)
<<CUT *227 (08/22/12)>> 00:09 "to previous years"
267-a-15-(Maria Arita (ah-REE'-tah), Dallas County spokeswoman, in AP interview)-"nation right now"-Dallas County spokeswoman Maria Arita says although there's been "some pushback" -- most residents have been supportive of the aerial spraying program. (22 Aug 2012)
<<CUT *267 (08/22/12)>> 00:15 "nation right now"
APPHOTO INEVA104: Health Specialist Keith Goy with the Vanderburgh County Health Department sets a trap for mosquitos in a South Side Evansville, Indiana backyard on Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012. The trap vacuums mosquitos up into its collecting net where they are then transported to the lab; categorized as to type; and then shipped off to be tested for the West Nile Virus. (AP Photo/The Evansville Courier & Press, Denny Simmons) (22 Aug 2012)
<<APPHOTO INEVA104 (08/22/12)>>
APPHOTO NY114: FILE - In this Aug. 16, 2012 file photo, mosquitos are sorted at the Dallas County mosquito lab in Dallas. U.S. health officials say there's been an alarming increase in the number of West Nile cases. So far there have been more than 1,100 cases reported through the middle of August. That's three times as many as usually seen at this point in the year. About half the cases are in Texas. Most West Nile infections are reported in August and September. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File) (16 Aug 2012)
<<APPHOTO NY114 (08/16/12)>>
