Content Tagged 'west nile virus'

A Hope Police Officer has died after an 18-day battle with the West Nile Virus, FOX16 has learned.

Right now, the United States is on pace to have the worst West Nile Virus outbreak on record.

West Nile virus cases are on the rise, according to the Arkansas Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agencies are urging people to take steps to prevent infections.

Arkansas has the most cases of West Nile virus since 2007 and the state Health Department said Thursday that the number of people sickened by the mosquito-borne illness is expected to grow.

"It felt like we had hit the lottery but not for the good," said William Spencer III, and it's not hard to understand why. Less than 50 people in the whole country have died from West Nile virus this year, and only one in Arkansas -- 88-year-old William Spencer Sr.

Texarkana has declared a state of emergency because of an increase in cases of West Nile virus.