Mosquito Virus Fear on Sodden Us Coast

Inhabitants of the east coast of the US are being warned of a possible severe outbreak of the deadly West Nile virus following very heavy rainfall which has created a breeding ground for "larger, hungrier" mosquitoes.

There are growing fears that stagnant water, lying in various containers, from discarded beer cans to empty plant pots, has led to marsh-like conditions that have dramatically increased the numbers of the insects hatching on the sodden eastern seaboard.

West Nile virus, first detected in New York four years ago, last year claimed 284 lives among 39 US states. There were 4,156 cases identified. This year all 50 states have issued warnings about it.

The New York area has suffered relentless rainfall this spring. So far this month, the city has soaked up 259mm (10.22in) of rain, breaking the previous high of 248mm for the same period, in 1903. A sudden switch to soaring temperatures in the 90s (Fahrenheit) over the past few days is expected to lead to swarms of mosquitoes in the city. Worse, the wet weather has delayed the mosquitoes' hatching, which means that, potentially, they could be bigger and more bloodthirsty.

This week has been designated "mosquito awareness week", to publicise the dangers and advise on how to avoid getting bitten. Helicopters in New York have been dropping pellets of larvicide over parts of Staten Island in the hope of containing the disease again this year. But health officials have warned that the rain could dilute the insecticide, making it less effective.

John Andersen, director of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven, said his team had caught 36,000 mosquitoes in 91 traps over three weeks, compared with 27,000 in the same period a year ago.

In severe cases, West Nile virus infection can lead to convulsions, paralysis, coma and even death. Last year, there were increasing numbers of fatalities among younger, healthier victims.