82 Confirmed or Probable Infections Have Been Reported
By Jean-Paul McDonald, Farms.com
As of Tuesday August 28 2012, Public Heath Ontario has reported 82 confirmed or probable cases of West Nile infections in Ontario this year. While the infections have primarily occurred in Southern Ontario, there have been no reported deaths thus far in Canada this year. Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec have also reported human cases of infection; however, their infection numbers are much lower.
Ontario’s record year for human cases of West Nile virus was in 2002, with 394 infections and 19 deaths. The number of human cases of West Nile virus infections in the United States stands at 1,590 already this year with 66 deaths associated to the virus, with more than 70% of cases being reported from six states, including Texas, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Louisiana and Michigan – with over 45% of all U.S cases being reported in Texas.