Missouri is seeing its highest West Nile Virus activity in years.

State Epidemiologist Dr. George Turabelidze told Missourinet that one especially troubling trend is the number of blood donors testing positive for the virus.

“We are among the more affected states,” said Turabelidze. “And if you look at what we are supposed to see by this time of the year, hospitalizations and death is 30-40% higher than you would expect for this time of the year nationally.”

He said weather is big contributing factor as well.

“We have (an) unusually warm October and there was sufficient rainfall that prolongs the mosquito season that increases their breeding,” said Turabelidze. “So, there are more mosquitoes around and that together creates the more opportunities for mosquitoes to bite humans and infec

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