Could it be that 2012 will be the worst year for West Nile virus? In Louisiana alone, infections are the highest they have been in six years. Reportedly, there have been 176 cases and ten deaths. Most commonly, about 80 percent of those infected will never see any symptoms. 20 percent will have symptoms that are severe flu like, and one percent will find out they have West Nile in a routine blood test. Mosquito abatement programs across the state are working to keep the number of cases down, but some circumstances make that difficult.
Credit Emily Paige
Elizabeth Williams, (left) reads a letter from her uncle, (right) who died from West Nile.