Cases Of West Nile Virus Rising Earlier In The Year Than Usual, Study Shows

CNN (7/27, Goodman) reported, “A study published in April in the journal Viruses that looked for evidence of past infection in the stored blood of 250 people admitted to the hospital for other reasons found that almost 1 out of every 5 samples had antibodies to West Nile virus.” In 2024, “West Nile activity has picked up earlier than usual,” leaving experts “worried that could mean a blockbuster year for the virus.” While “scientists have developed promising vaccine candidates against West Nile virus” over the years, none have yet made it “to a larger phase 3 study, which would be necessary for licensure by the US Food and Drug Administration.”