By Marie Cendejas

In Texas, at least 43 people have died from the West Nile virus this year.  Texas Department of State Health Services recorded at least 510 cases of neuroinvasive West Nile, and it considered the infection the most serious form of the illness because it affects the nervous system, according to CBS News.  

(Editor's comment:  West Nile virus may not pose any life-threatening risk to healthy people who have healthy immunity.  All people died in the past due to west Nile virus had already suffered compromised immune systems.   That is, HIV-AIDS patients, patients who are taking anti-immunity drugs and cancer patients are at high risk of death from the infection, according to research by U.S. government researchers.)

The outbreak of West nile Virus is much worse in 2012 than what happened in 2003 in the State - 439 neuroinvasive cases and 40 deaths for the whole year.   The numbers are expected to go up through mid-October although August is often the peak month

Because the symptoms of West Nile virus  can take 2 weeks to appear,   Dr. Lyle Petersen of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, "Even if West Nile virus transmission were to stop today, we would continue to see reports of cases for several weeks.”

Federal officials say at least 87 deaths associated with West Nile virus infection nationwide have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this year. There are reporting delays as numbers from individual states are compiled, so that number only includes 35 deaths in Texas.

“Nationwide there have been at least 1,069 neuroinvasive cases and 924 non-neuroinvasive West Nile cases. Combined, the total is the largest number reported to CDC through the first week in September since West Nile was first detected in the U.S. in 1999,” said Petersen.

Texas has recorded 530 non-neuroinvasive cases this year for a total of 1,040 cases.

Texas has been working with the CDC this summer to help eliminate mosquitos that carry West Nile virus, including aerial spraying of insecticide in parts of North Texas. 

Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner Dr. David Lakey said,” In areas that received two consecutive aerial sprays, the number of mosquitoes decreased by 93%. Transmission is contingent on mosquitoes. The more you have, the greater likelihood of an outbreak."

Mosquitoes get the virus from feeding on infected birds and then spread the virus to people they bite.

“The officials are still studying what exactly has made it such a deadly year for West Nile, especially in the Dallas area. Dallas County has seen the most deaths statewide with 13. More than 70% of the cases this year come from Texas, South Dakota, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Michigan and Louisiana. All states except Alaska and Hawaii have found West Nile virus in people, birds or mosquitoes this year,” said Dr. Lyle Petersen.

Symptoms for both forms of West Nile virus can include headaches and fever, but those with the neuroinvasive form can also suffer from symptoms including coma, convulsions and paralysis.

Research in the U.S. shows that all deaths from West Nile virus occur in those who have their immune  system compromised such as cancer patients, transplant-recipients, and HIV/AIDS patients among others.