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ATLANTA, Aug 02, 2003 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- U.S. health authorities are fearing a resurgence of the West Nile virus with the onset of the mosquito breeding season, CNN reported.
"I think the smart money would say we're going to have another heavy season of West Nile virus this summer because of the wet spring, (which means) a lot of mosquitoes," said Dr. Daniel Blumenthal, an infectious disease expert at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta.
Dan O'Leary with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta said there is no way to predict exactly what will happen this year.
But, he said, there is evidence in some states -- such as Florida and Louisiana -- of early West Nile activity in mosquitoes, birds and animals.
In 2002, 284 people died from the disease, according to the CDC, which reported more than 4,000 cases nationwide last year.
Copyright 2003 by United Press International.
