Worst year ever for West Nile in Texas; 43 dead

DALLAS (AP) — Health officials say it’s the worst year ever for West Nile in Texas, which has seen about half the country’s deaths from the virus this year.

The Texas Department of State Health Services said Wednesday that at least 43 people have died from the virus in Texas. The state has recorded at least 510 cases of neuroinvasive West Nile, the most serious form of the illness.

That’s already worse than in all of 2003, when Texas had 439 neuroinvasive cases and 40 deaths.

Federal officials say there have been at least 87 deaths nationwide this …

DALLAS (AP) — Health officials say it’s the worst year ever for West Nile in Texas, which has seen about half the country’s deaths from the virus this year.

The Texas Department of State Health Services said Wednesday that at least 43 people have died from the virus in Texas. The state has recorded at least 510 cases of neuroinvasive West Nile, the most serious form of the illness.

That’s already worse than in all of 2003, when Texas had 439 neuroinvasive cases and 40 deaths.

Federal officials say there have been at least 87 deaths nationwide this year. Due to reporting delays that number only includes 35 deaths in Texas.

Officials say numbers are expected to increase through mid-October. But they say there are indications tha August marked the peak.