OLYMPIA, Wash. - The West Nile monitoring season is coming to a close but Washington saw an increased number of human cases this year.
Four Washington residents reported with the infection this year. That is the most human infections in Washington since 2009.
Of the four cases in 2012, two were acquired in state in Benton County and in Yakima County. The other two, who live in Clark and Pierce Counties, were likely exposed outside of the state.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported more than 5,100 cases of the virus in 48 states this year.
In addition to human cases, there was one report of a horse in Benton County being diagnosed with the virus.
In 2009, 38 human cases were reported in the state. 2 cases were reported in 2010 and no cases were reported in 2011.
