U.S. West Nile Outbreak Biggest in World in ’02
The United States suffered the biggest reported outbreak of West Nile encephalitis in the world this year, a federal disease control expert said.
Now, officials are wondering whether the situation will be as bad or worse next year.
The 2,500 cases of West Nile encephalitis and meningitis surpassed by far earlier outbreaks in Israel, Russia and Romania, said Dr. Roy Campbell, an epidemiologist with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. The virus, which has now hit all but five states, killed 230 in 2002.
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