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First Death From West Nile Reported In Maryland

By: Meymo Lyons // August 30, 2012
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Mosquitoes have been delivering the West Nile Virus at a rate near record highs.
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Mosquitoes have been delivering the West Nile Virus at a rate near record highs.

Maryland health officials are reporting the state's first death from the West Nile virus.

The health department is not releasing any details on the death. Maryland has had 13 cases of West Nile virus so far this year. Nineteen cases were reported last year and 23 the year before in Maryland.

Federal officials say West Nile cases nationwide are up 40 percent since last week and may rival the record years of 2002 and 2003.

An early spring and hot summer may be responsible. Mosquitoes get the virus from feeding on infected birds and spread it to people they bite. Symptoms include fever, headache and body aches, and most people get better in a few days.

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