West Nile virus cases up 40% from last week - USA TODAY

By Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY

Updated

West Nile virus cases nationally were up 40% from last week, reaching 1,590 ill, including 66 dead, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday.

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  By Justin Sullivan, Getty Images

  Contra Costa County Mosquito and Vector Control technicians drive through a neighborhood sprayed with insecticide Aug. 23 in Brentwood, Calif.

By Justin Sullivan, Getty Images

Contra Costa County Mosquito and Vector Control technicians drive through a neighborhood sprayed with insecticide Aug. 23 in Brentwood, Calif.

Health officials cautioned Americans to avoid mosquitoes as best they can heading into Labor Day weekend as they announced the sharp increase in West Nile virus illnesses and deaths nationwide.

The increase was expected, as late August and early September typically represent the peak of West Nile cases, said Lyle Petersen, director of CDC's Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases.

In Texas, the hardest-hit state, the Department of State Health Services said it had 783 confirmed cases and 31 deaths because of the mosquito-born illness as of Tuesday.

Health officials warned the public to take care over the coming three-day Labor Day weekend with its backyard BBQs and other outdoor events. Texas offers the "Four D's" for West Nile defense: Use DEET, dress in long sleeves and pants, stay indoors at dusk and dawn and drain standing water where mosquitoes breed.

The disease is spread by infected mosquitoes, who get it from infected birds.

Most people infected with West Nile virus will not have any signs of illness, but 20% will experience mild symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches and in some cases a skin rash on the trunk of the body and swollen lymph glands. People over 50 and those with compromised immune systems are most at risk.

About one in 150 people infected with the virus will get West Nile neuroinvasive disease. Symptoms include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness and paralysis. People who experience these symptoms should consult their health care providers.

It takes two to 14 days to develop West Nile virus in humans. Symptoms from the mild form of the disease may last a few days to several weeks. Symptoms of the severe form can last weeks. Some neurological effects may be permanent. About one in 1,000 people infected with the virus die.

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