First West Nile Death in 2005 Reported

Posted on June 24, 2005

The first death from the West Nile virus in 2005 has been reported in Missouri. KDSK, a St. Louis news station, said the case was reported in a 70-year-old man from Adair County in northeast Missouri. They cited health officials as saying the man died on June 14th. Last year West Nile virus was not as severe as expected but there were still 2,535 human cases and 98 deaths.

There have been 650 deaths from West Nile virus since it was first discovered in the United States in New York City in 1999. The CDC website has a West Nile virus section which provides updates about new cases and methods for avoiding the incurable disease.


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