In this photo provided by the Northwest Mosquito Abatement District, lab assistant Carter Sharp sorts mosquitoes Thursday, July 26, 2012, in Wheeling, Ill., that were collected from Chicago's northwest suburbs for West Nile virus testing.MIKE STOBBE, AP Medical Writer
ATLANTA - U.S. health officials say there's been an alarming increase in the number of West Nile cases.
So far there have been more than 1,100 cases reported through the middle of August. That's three times as many as usually seen at this point in the year. About half the cases are in Texas. Most West Nile infections are reported in August and September.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the new numbers Wednesday. They say the mild winter, early spring and very hot summer have fostered breeding of the mosquitoes. Mosquitoes pick up the virus from birds and then spread it to people.
West Nile virus was first reported in the United States in 1999.