West Nile Virus May Hit US Hard this Year

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Top Health Official Warns West Nile Virus Could Hit US Hard This Summer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) Jun 17 - Health and Human Services Secretary

Tommy warned on Monday of the potential for another outbreak

of the mosquito-borne West Nile virus in the United States this summer

because of the wet spring weather.

" Because of the tremendous amount of rain we've had, the kind of

moisture that's in the fields; it's going to be great fertile breeding

grounds for mosquitoes. We can expect that West Nile virus is going to

hit the United States pretty hard this summer, " said.

Appearing on CNN, said that funds were being provided to

state and local agencies to eradicate mosquito breeding grounds, which

he said was the best way to prevent the spread of West Nile virus.

The health secretary also urged people to take steps to guard against

mosquito bites.

" We're encouraging everybody that when they go outside to make sure

that they use insect repellent wherever they go, to use long-sleeve

shirts and blouses when they're out in the woods and to avoid areas

where insects, and especially mosquitoes, are, " said.

US health officials reported last week that the West Nile virus had

resurfaced in two dozen states, but they stopped short of predicting

another record outbreak.

Last year, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

documented 4156 cases of West Nile in the United States, including 284

deaths. The outbreak was the largest since the virus first appeared in

the Western Hemisphere in 1999.

No human cases have been reported this year.