The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting that as of yesterday there are 32 new people infected with West Nile virus, with one
fatality, as opposed to no infections until July in 2003. US health officials are starting to ask why is it that the strain of West Nile is deadlier
in the US more than anywhere else in the world except Israel.
West Nile spreads throughout U.S.
The mosquito-borne virus is having the biggest impact now in Arizona, with 20 cases including one fatality.
West Nile started infecting people in early May and had reached seven states as of Tuesday, according to the CDC's June 25 Morbidity and Mortality
Weekly Report.
West Nile virus, which is transmitted to people by mosquitoes who fed on infected birds, killed 246 Americans and infected 9,862 last year. This is by
far the worst human toll anywhere in the world at any time since the virus' discovery in Uganda in 1937.
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The virus claimed the life of a 74 year old woman from Phoenix last week, which was transmitted through a mosquito bite.
US Health officials are saying that the virus has mutated into a deadlier form in the United States, but they don't have a clue as to why.
This virus appeared in Israel in 1997, then appeared in New York in 1999, and since then has been expanding westward in the United States.
Dr. Manuel Cereijo, a professor at Florida International University believes it is very possible the strain that is found in the US was brought from
Cuba. He also states: "Many Cuban engineers and scientists have been trained by former East Germany, the Soviet Union, North Korea, Iraq, Iran,
Vietnam and China."
Could it be possible that Castro is behind the outbreak in the US of West Nile?
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[edit on 28-6-2004 by Muaddib]