2012 West Nile virus update: November 20
Pearl Rains-Hewett
Posted 11/27/2012
As of November 20, 2012, 48 states have reported West Nile virus infections in people, birds, or mosquitoes. A total of 5,207 cases of West Nile virus disease in people, including 234 deaths, have been reported to CDC. Of these, 2,643 (51%) were classified as neuroinvasive disease (such as meningitis or encephalitis) and 2,564 (49%) were classified as non-neuroinvasive disease.
The 5,207 cases reported thus far in 2012 is the highest number of West Nile virus disease cases reported to CDC through the third week in November since 2003. Eighty percent of the cases have been reported from 13 states (Texas, California, Louisiana, Illinois, Mississippi, Michigan, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Colorado, Arizona, Ohio, and New York) and a third of all cases have been reported from Texas.