Arizona Has Most Humans Infected With West Nile

June 17, 2004
The Associated Press

PHOENIX - Twenty people in Arizona have been infected with West Nile virus this year, far more than any other state, health officials said Tuesday.

All the reported cases were in Maricopa County, said Michael Murphy, a spokesman for the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Of the 20 cases, seven people developed encephalitis; seven developed meningitis; two developed West Nile fever and four cases were unclassified. None of the cases have been fatal.

"We do have potential for a sizable outbreak," said Craig Levy, a program manager at the health department.

West Nile made its first appearance in Arizona last year; one person died of the flulike disease.

In adjacent Colorado, however, nearly 3,000 people were infected and 55 died.

West Nile is normally transmitted to humans and animals through bites by mosquitos, which become infected when they feed on infected birds.

The majority of individuals infected develop flulike symptoms but about 20 percent develop encephalitis, meningitis or paralysis that may be lasting. In a small number of cases, the disease is fatal.

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/breaking/061704west_nile.html