There’s one more reason to try to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, scientists have discovered: bites from mosquitoes that aren’t infected by the West Nile virus may make the disease worse in people who acquire it later from West Nile-infected mosquitoes.

Researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine have identified a new class of compounds that may inhibit West Nile virus in humans. They report their findings in the November 2007 issue of the Journal of Virology.

Scientists believe they have found an explanation for a puzzling and serious complication of West Nile virus infection.

Stable flies are the latest suspect that may be involved in the West Nile virus deaths of hundreds of pelican chicks at the Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge in northeast Montana. West Nile virus killed 800 to 1,000 pelican chicks in 2003, averaged 400 in each of the next three summers and more than 600 this year.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services reports the state’s first death from West Nile virus. Test results indicate that a man in his eighties from the Panhandle died from the virus the end of July.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today (August 28) announced approval of a second test for the detection of West Nile virus (WNV) in blood and organs.

On 10th of August, the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) announced the first human death from West Nile virus (WNV) of the 2007 season. The deceased was an Ottawa County man over age 65. He had experienced symptoms of neurologic disease, the most severe form of West Nile virus infection.