The confirmed number of cases of West Nile virus has increased to 60, which is more than double the number of human cases documented three weeks ago.
Officials are calling this one of the worst summers for the mosquito-borne virus in the state and across the U.S. Two people - a 76-year-old man in Hamilton County and an 87-year-old man in Cuyahoga County - have died from the virus. Statewide, 47 people have been hospitalized with symptoms that began between July 10 and August 28. Cuyahoga County has the most human cases so far with 21 cases.
Across the United States, 1,993 cases have been reported to federal health officials. This is an increase of 403 in one week, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This year, deaths from the disease stand at 87, which is up from 66 reported a week earlier.
According to the CDC, one in five who become infected with the virus will develop West Nile fever. Symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness and bodyaches.
