West Nile virus spreads, Dallas declares a state of emergency

West Nile virus spreads, Dallas declares a state of emergency (Alberta Times) The mayor of Dallas, the ninth largest city in the United States, declared a state of emergency on Wednesday to step up efforts to contain...

The mayor of Dallas, the ninth largest city in the United States, declared a state of emergency on Wednesday to step up efforts to curb the spread of the West Nile virus. Reuters said West Nile virus has caused more infections in Texas and other states this year than ever before.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has received reports of 693 people infected with the mosquito-borne West Nile virus as of Tuesday, nearly half of them in Texas. The state has also seen 14 deaths, more than half of the 26 deaths nationwide.

In declaring the state of emergency, Mayor Mike Rawlings said that unless immediate action is taken and prevention is carried out, serious illness and loss of life are likely to occur.

The death toll from West Nile virus in the state has risen to 16, the Texas Health Department said this week. Rawlings' declaration of emergency comes after Dallas County officials announced the same measure last week in preparation for planes to begin spraying pesticides this week.

Other places, including New York City and Sacramento, the capital of California, have also begun spraying from airplanes to eliminate mosquitoes that transmit West Nile virus. Officials say such spraying is the most effective way to control mosquito-borne viruses, but there are concerns that people can also be exposed to chemical pesticides.

Earlier this month, the CDC said West Nile virus infections were occurring in 42 states and were the highest since late July 2004. Infections typically peak in mid-August.

Health officials say the cause of the increase in West Nile virus infections is unclear. The CDC says weather, mosquito populations and human behavior are all likely factors in outbreaks.