The economic impact of the deadly West Nile virus has been "substantially underestimated," according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Researchers estimate that hospital visits, follow-up care, and lost productivity have cost the nation $778 million in the 14 years since the virus was first detected in the US. That works out to $56 million a year.
West Nile virus, which spreads via infected mosquitoes, was first detected in New York in 1999. Seasonal outbreaks are now expected every year. The virus can induce fever, meningitis, encephalitis, and acute flaccid paralysis in humans, which can cause death or permanent disability. There have been more than 37,000 cases in the US, resulting in 1,500 deaths....
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