4 more West Nile cases reported in Minn.
by Mark Steil, Minnesota Public RadioWORTHINGTON, Minn. — The Minnesota Department of Health says four more cases of West Nile Virus have been reported in the state this past week.
The new illnesses means that so far this year 65 cases and one death have been attributed to the mosquito-borne virus in the state. Across the U.S., there have been more than 3,500 cases and nearly 150 deaths blamed on the disease.
Health officials say hot summer weather across most of the nation is the likely cause for the wide spread West Nile outbreak this year. As average temperatures fall, its expected the number of new cases will continue to decline.
In Minnesota, the state averaged eight new cases a week in August and early September, but the rate of infection has dropped in the last two weeks.
