West Nile Virus 2012: Outbreak, Spreading In the US

The West Nile Virus has bitten the US with a vicious bite, killing 118 people within the past week and looks to conquer more. Be sure to learn its symptoms and treatment and be on the lookout.

Although its origins are East African, the virus was first found in the US in 1993 but is quickly turning into one of its deadliest US seasons to date. Rising from 1,993 reported cases to 2,636 since the beginning of the year 2012, the 50 states from NJ to NYC, with the exception of Alaska and Hawaii, have all reported cases of the virus.

53 percent of these new reported cases have had the most severe form of virus, with the state of Texas having 40 percent of the cases originate from it. Overall two-thirds of the cases have been situated in Louisiana, South Dakota, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas, and Michigan.

"The 2,636 cases reported thus far in 2012 is the highest number of West Nile virus disease cases reported to CDC through the second week in September since 2003," the CDC said on its website.

It has been speculated the increased spread of the virus has been due the unseasonably warm winters, early springs, and scorching summers.

"This year's outbreak is the most serious to date," said Lye Peterson, director of the CDC's division of vector-borne infectious disease. "The longer the weather stays warm, the more transmission that is going to occur. It is certainly possible that in some areas of the country the outbreak may not have peaked yet."