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There is only one state in the whole country that has not seen West Nile virus activity in 2018. If you live in Arkansas, you can go out of this article and move on to the day. But for everyone, West Nile virus has appeared somewhere near you and some states have been affected much more than others. These seven states have more West Nile virus than anywhere else in the country (data from September 2018).
Mosquitoes carry many diseases, including West Nile virus. | nechaev-kon / iStock / Getty Images7. Colorado
Number of cases: 47
Colorado experienced 47 cases of West Nile virus in 2018 and 23 of them were neuroinvasive cases. When this is a neuroinvasive case, it means that West Nile has affected the brain one way or another. Some patients have encephalitis (swelling of the brain), while others contract meningitis. Not all cases are neuroinvasive. In Colorado, for example, the other 24 cases were not. Colorado has had only one West Nile death so far this year.
6. Illinois
Number of cases: 47
Illinois has links to Colorado for the total number of cases, but the state has seen many more neuroinvasive cases. Illinois had 31 cases that affected the brain, and these are considered far more serious than non-invasive cases. His 16 others were non-invasive. Despite more serious cases, Illinois has experienced only one death in West Nile this year.
5. California
Number of cases: 56
Compared to its population, California has had fewer cases per 100,000 population than Illinois or Colorado. However, in 2018, there were still 56 known West Nile infections. Of these, 37 were neuroinvasive. Although the number is higher than the two previous states, California has only had two deaths. Two deaths in 56 cases show that the disease does not usually kill.
4. Louisiana
Number of cases: 64
The prevalence of West Nile in Louisiana is not a surprise since the state provides the ideal climate for mosquitoes. Of the 64 cases, 42 were neuroinvasive. With more cases, inevitably, there are more deaths – Louisiana has experienced three deaths in West Nile until now this year.
3. South Dakota
Number of cases: 107
South Dakota could be a surprise. But South Dakota is home to the Culex tarsalis, a type of mosquito more likely to be infected with the virus than other mosquitoes residing in other states. As a result, South Dakota has recorded more than 100 cases this year. However, only 25 of the 107 cases were neuroinvasive, and although the number of cases in some of the other states on this list was more than double, only two deaths occurred.
2. North Dakota
Number of cases: 129
North Dakota beats South Dakota in terms of prevalence, but similar to its southern counterpart, it does not see as many neuroinvasive cases as other states. Of the 129 cases, only 36 were neuroinvasive, which means that most people who are infected probably do not have symptoms. The state saw only one death of West Nile.
1. Nebraska
Number of cases: 133
Nebraska currently has the highest prevalence of West Nile compared to any other state. Nebraska has less than two million people, so there are many more cases per capita than in California. Unlike North Dakota and South Dakota, Nebraska has more cases that are neuroinvasive than otherwise, resulting in the death of four West Nile species so far this year.
All case information is courtesy of the CDC.
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