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As of August 11, West Nile virus (WNV) has killed at least six people and sickened about 400 people in the US, according to the statistics from some states and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Among the fatalities recorded as of August 8, two deaths from West Nile virus have been reported from the state of Idaho, two from Mississippi, one from Michigan and the sixth from Minnesota, the CDC states on its website. The death toll could be higher as the CDC does not release the real current total of human cases as quickly as the states do.

As of August 8, the nationwide total number of human cases of West Nile virus infections has drastically increased to 192, according to the CDC, from 87 reported one week ago. But based on the statistics from the states, the number may have as well exceeded 400 as of August 11.

The states hit hardest by West Nile virus in terms of human cases are California (20), Colorado (11), Idaho (45), Minnesota (9), Mississippi (16), Nevada (17), South Dakota (18) and Texas (17), the CDC updated on August 8. Fewer human cases of West Nile virus have been reported in Arizona (5), Indiana (1), Iowa (4), Kansas (1), Michigan (1), Missouri (2), Nebraska (8), New York (1), North Dakota (5), Oklahoma (3), Pennsylvania (3) and Utah (5) as of August 8.

In California, as of August 11, West Nile virus has infected a total of 41 people in Colusa County (1), Fresno County (1), Glenn County (2), Kern County (17), Los Angeles County (1), Modoc County (1), Sacramento County (2), San Joanquin County (1), Stanislaus County (1), Sutter County (3) and Yolo County (8), according to the California Department of Health Service.

In 2005, there were 935 human West Nile Virus infections in 40 out of 58 counties in California. There were 19 West Nile virus-related fatalities reported in California in 2005 from Amador, Butte, Fresno, Kings, Madera, Plumas, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tulare counties, according to the state health department.

In Colorado, 23 human cases of West Nile virus have been reported in Bent County (2), Boulder County (2), Delta County (3), Elbert County (1), El Paso County (1), Larimer County (2), Logan County (2), Mesa County (6), Morgan County (1), and Weld County (4), as of August 11, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Last year, Colorado reported 106 human cases of the WNV including two deaths.

In Idaho, as of August 11, 151 people have reportedly been infected by West Nile virus and 14 of them have experienced severe illnesses or died, according to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. The Counties hit hardest by the WNV include Ada County (35), Canyon County (40), Elmore County (14), Gooding County (14), Owyhee County (9), Payette County (10), and Twin Falls County (10). Other counties where human cases of WNV are Bannock County (1), Bingham County (2), Bonneville County (1), Camas County (2), Gem County (7), Idaho County (1), Lincoln County (1), Valley County (1), and Washington County (3).

In 2005, Idaho reported13 human cases of West Nile virus in Ada County (2), Owyhee county (1) Washington County (1), Gem County (2), Gooding County (1), Adams County (1), Canyon County (2), Twin Falls County (2), and Elmore County (1), all reported in August and September, meaning that the number of human cases of WNV for this year will be much higher.

In Minnesota, 18 human cases of West Nile virus including two deaths have been reported as of August 10 in Big Stone County (1), Lac Qui Parle County (1), Lincoln County (1), Stevens County (2), and Traverse County (1), according to the Minnesota Department of Health. In 2005, Minnesota reported 45 human cases of the WNV including three deaths in 29 counties.

In Mississippi, as of August 11, 30 human cases of West Nile virus have been reported in Bolivar County (1), Copiah County (1), Forrest County (12), Harrison County (1), Hinds County (2), Lamar County (2), Lauderdale County (2), Madison County (1), Monroe County (1), Pike County (2), Rankin County (1), Scott County (1), Stone County (1), Washington County (1) and Wayne County (1), according to theMissippi Department of Health. No persons have died so far this year. In 2005, Mississippi reported 70 human cases of the WNV including 6 deaths.

In Nevada, 26 human cases of West Nile virus have been reported so far this year in Carson County (2), Churchill County (2) Douglas County (5), Elko County (2), Humboldt County (11), Lander County (1), Lyon County (1), Pershing County (1), and Washoe County (1), according to Nevada State Health Division.. Last year, Nevada reported 62 cases of the WNV. The human cases of the WNV in the state will be much higher this year than last year.

In South Dakota, as of August 10, 19 human cases of West Nile disease have been reported to the South Dakota Department of Health from Pennington County (1), Fall River County (1), Ziebach County (1), Jones County (1), Brown County (5), Grant County (1), Beadle County (1), Brookings County (2), Davison County (1), Lake County (1), Moody County (1), Lincoln County (1) Turner County (1), and Clay County (1). Last year, the state reported 228 human cases of West Nile disease including two deaths.

In Texas, as of August 10, 2006, 30 human cases of West Nile virus infections including one death have been reported to the The Texas Department of State Health Services from 14 counties including Angelina County (1), Brazos County (1), Dallas County (5), Denton County (1), El Paso County (1), Harris County (9), Jefferson County (2), Lubbock County (1), McLennan County (4), Montgomery County (2), Nueces County (2), and Tarrant County (1). Last year, Texas reported 125 human cases including 11 deaths from West Nile virus infections.

In 2005, West Nile virus reportedly infected 3000 people in the US among whom 119 died from the infection. Most commonly seen complications are meningitis/encephalitis and fever. The most affected states include Arizona (113/5, cases/death toll), California (880/19), Colorado (106/2), Illinois (252/13), Louisiana (171/11), Nebraska (188/5), South Dakota (229/2), and Texas (195/11). According to the CDC, over 15,000 people in the U.S. have tested positive for the WNV infection since 1999, including over 500 deaths.

The risk of death from West Nile virus infections is low. Among the infected, about 20 percent may experience mild or moderate symptoms and less than 1 % may develop severe neuroinvasive disease. While healthy people may not be at a high risk, those with their immune systems compromised should avoid mosquito bites, the major route of transmission of the virus from birds to humans.

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