US News

West Nile’s killer year

Last year was the worst for West Nile virus deaths in the United States.

The final tally, reported yesterday, was 286, breaking the 2002 record of 284.

But there were far fewer cases overall and fewer serious ones, despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s prediction that the weather was optimal for the mosquitoes that spread the virus.

The CDC said Texas had nearly a third of the year’s serious cases and about a third of the deaths.