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D.C. Sees Its First West Nile Death

By: Patrick Madden // September 6, 2012
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Health officials are warning people that could be more susceptible to West Nile virus to stay indoors during times of peak mosquito activity.
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Health officials are warning people that could be more susceptible to West Nile virus to stay indoors during times of peak mosquito activity.

Health officials in D.C. are reporting the city's first West Nile virus death.

D.C. Health officials say another District resident is also hospitalized with the virus. Last week, authorities in Maryland reported the state's first death from the virus — no deaths have so far been reported in Virginia.

Federal officials say cases nationwide are up sharply and may rival the record years of 2002 and 2003. Officials say an early spring and hot summer may be responsible.

Mosquitoes get the virus from feeding on infected birds and then spread it to people they bite.

Senior citizens and those with suppressed immune systems are more vulnerable to infection.

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