“The higher the heat and the higher the humidity then the longer this will go.”-Phil Smith, Bucks County

More cases of West Nile virus being reported in the United States.

17 August, Bucks County, Pennsylvania reports first case for 2012.

17 August, New Haven, Connecticut reports first case for 2012.

17 August, Alabama officials reveal that at least six people have West Nile.

More mosquitoes were found infected with West Nile in Massachusetts.  Spraying to kill the blood suckers will begin in North Leominster on 20 August.

Health officials in Virginia are warning that as many as 80% of those infected don’t know it, and that: “20% have West Nile fever. About 10% of that 20% will have West Nile virus encephalitis and this can be very very life threatening.”-Jorge Arias, Fairfax County Health Department

In Texas, a Union Pacific (UP) railway employee was awarded $980,000 USD, for getting infected with West Nile virus while on the job.  The jury decided UP was 80% responsible because they made employees work in a swampy area with no insect repellant.

Bee keepers in Texas are reporting that spraying to kill mosquitoes is killing thousands of honey bees: “They will share their food and within 24 or 48 hours, 80% of those bees have shared that and they will be gone like the ones that we have witnessed.”-Susan Pollard, The Texas Honeybee Guild

The Texas cities of Grapevine, Colleyville and Southlake all reported human cases of West Nile virus.  The city of Southlake is providing free larvicide on a first come first served basis.

Horses are also becoming infected: “The horse will become unsteady on his feet, maybe stumbling, acting weak on the feet, laying down and not able to get up, sometimes depressed at first, and not interested in their food.”-Will Hadden, Gresham Veterinary Hospital

Dogs can get infected as well, but there is no vaccine for dogs.

In Arkansas, officials expect West Nile cases to grow.  They have a new theory as to why, the country wide drought: “One possible explanation could be with water sources drying up, the sources that are where not only mosquitoes are concentrated but also birds are concentrated. It puts the vectors in closer contact with one another.”-Susan Weinstein, state public health veterinarian

Oregon health officials reporting that mosquitoes in Jackson and Malheur counties tested positive for West Nile.

The Minnesota Department of Health reports 18 human cases so far.

Caddo Parish, in Louisiana, reporting second highest number of West Nile cases in the state. Human infections in Louisiana now at 92.

North Dakota reports 14 human cases, five people hospitalized.  Horses and birds also infected (birds are actually the source for West Nile virus).  Officials are puzzled because the state is in a drought: “Normally, you would think in years when it’s wetter, like last year with all the flooding there would be more West Nile cases, because mosquitoes require water to breed.”-Alicia Lepp, North Dakota Department of Health

Michigan has reported their first death from the virus, they blame the drought: “The unusually hot and dry summer has favored the mosquitoes that transmit WNV. These same conditions have led to a reduction in the number of nuisance mosquitoes which are more abundant during wet summers, giving citizens a false sense of security.”-Corinne Miller, Michigan Department of Community Health

Indiana reported its first death due to the virus. A survivor describes what the symptoms are like: “It feels like somebody has lodged an axe in my brain. Just about the time I think I’m out of the woods, then something else comes along, and we have to fight that, too.”-Katharyn DeVille