9 more West Nile cases confirmed in Minn.

Mosquito
In this Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010 photo, a Cattail mosquito is held up for inspection at the Maine Medical Center Research Institute in South Portland, Maine. Cattail mosquitos can transmit Eastern equine encephalitis and West Nile virus to humans.
AP Photo/Pat Wellenbach

Minnesota health officials have confirmed another nine cases of West Nile virus in the state over the past week.

The new cases bring the state's total to 44 for the year, including one death. Nationwide, nearly 1,600 cases of the mosquito-borne illness have been reported.

Minnesota Department of Health epidemiologist Dave Neitzel says the number of new cases should start to decline later this month. He said the final 2012 total should be well below peak West Nile years.

"It'll probably be somewhere in the middle of the pack," said Neitzel.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.

New cases of the mosquito-borne illness will probably start declining later this month, he said.

"I anticipate over the next two to three weeks the number of reports coming in will still remain high," he said. "As we get into September, I anticipate that as the mosquito numbers begin to decline, that we will see a decline in the number of new cases."

The highest number of cases came in 2003, when the virus caused 148 illnesses and four deaths. One hundred and one cases were reported in 2007. Since 2008, the number of cases has been mostly in the single digits until this summer.

The year's mosquito-friendly warm temperatures probably account for the higher 2012 numbers, Neitzel said.