Great News: West Nile on the Decline

There's good news for those of us who have felt a sense of dread every time we slapped a hungry mosquito this summer. Officials at the CDC believe that the West Nile outbreak has peaked and they expect the number of cases to decline.

As of Tuesday, 2,636 cases of West Nile virus and 118 deaths had been reported to the CDC, the most serious outbreak since 1999 because of a high number of cases triggering neuroinvasive diseases such as encephalitis and meningitis. The elderly and those with already-compromised immune systems have been at an especially high risk.

Although West Nile cases should decline, the CDC still recommends taking the following precautions:

• Remove standing water from outdoor containers 
• Wear long pants and sleeves when outside at dusk and dawn 
• Apply insect repellent when spending time outdoors 
• Keep mosquitoes from coming indoors by using air conditioning and repairing screens on doors and windows 

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