West Nile virus extends reach to Montana, New Mexico

ATLANTA-- The number of Americans who have contracted West Nile virus this year approached 300 Thursday as the mosquito-borne virus extended its reach to Montana and New Mexico.

The disease has now killed at least 14 people and infected animals or humans in all but seven of the lower 48 states. The death toll will rise if the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirm two fatal cases of West Nile reported Thursday in Georgia.

If confirmed, the deaths would raise the nationwide toll to at least 15 this year and 33 since the virus was first discovered in the United States in 1999.

State officials said the victims were a 51-year-old Atlanta man and a 77-year-old man from Columbus, but did not say when they died.

"West Nile virus arrived in Georgia last year, and there is currently no way to eradicate it, so we expect it to be with us every summer for the foreseeable future," said Dr. Kathleen Toomey, director of the state's Division of Public Health.

Dr. Lyle Petersen, a CDC expert on the virus, said there will probably be more West Nile activity in the South over the long run.

"But outbreaks could eventually happen anywhere," he said.

Of the 269 CDC-confirmed human cases this year, at least 178 of them have been in the coastal South.

The virus can cause flu-like symptoms and encephalitis, a potentially fatal brain infection. Most people bitten by an infected bug never get sick.

The virus is most dangerous for children, the elderly and people with weak immune systems. There is no cure for humans.

Montana health officials Thursday confirmed finding West Nile in a horse. New Mexico officials said two horses there were infected.

"I'm sure if we keep looking hard enough we'll find some more," said Thurman Reitz, assistant New Mexico state veterinarian. "I don't have any reason to think it's going to quit at the Texas border."

The CDC has said the virus eventually will reach the West Coast.