Nile virus recedes

New Yorkers can breathe a sigh of relief now the city’s outbreak of West Nile
virus appears to be winding down. Seven people have died from the mosquito-borne
African virus, which surfaced in the western hemisphere this year
(New Scientist, 2 October, p 13).
The virus has killed numerous birds, mostly
crows, and several horses. Officials are still testing blood samples taken from
people to judge the rate of asymptomatic infections.