Health: West Nile Virus Cases Increasing At Alarming Rates

By Stephanie Stahl

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - There's an alarming increase in the number of West Nile virus cases, according to health officials on Wednesday. 3 On Your Side Health Reporter Stephanie Stahl has more on the growing numbers.

On Wednesday, CDC Officials said there are more than eleven-hundred cases of West Nile Virus in the United States so far this year, including 41 deaths. More than half of the cases have been severe.

A record number of mosquitoes in and around Philadelphia are testing positive for West Nile virus, but we don't have an alarming number of reported human cases so far this year. That could be because about 80 percent of people who have the virus don't know they're infected.

"Unfortunately most of the symptoms are non-specific. You may feel like you have the flu or feel more run down and feel more achy than normal," said Dr. Mark Saks, an Emergency Medicine Physician with Hahnemann/Drexel. He says West Nile virus is most dangerous for people over 50.

Federal health officials say this year's record outbreak is centered mainly in and around Texas. 56 percent of the cases are described as neuroinvasive disease.

"It can affect the brain tissue and cause what we call an encephalitis or meningoencephalitis, where there's an inflammation of the brain," said Dr. Saks.

There's been unprecedented spraying locally and officials are warning people to get rid of standing water, and guard against mosquito bites, with insecticide containing DEET.

"People who spend more time outdoors gardeners, farmers, maybe golfers things like that who are more at risk for mosquito bites are obviously at higher risk of getting it," said Dr. Saks.

In Pennsylvania, there have been eight confirmed human cases of West Nile virus, one in Bucks County and two in Delaware County.

There are two cases in New Jersey, and none in Delaware

Find out more information here:
CDC West Nile Virus Information
Pennsylvania West Nile Virus Information
New Jersey West Nile Virus Information
Delaware West Nile Virus Information