By Alabama Public Radio
Atlanta, GA – The West Nile virus has traditionally been considered a serious problem only for the elderly and children and more of a nuisance for everyone else. But officials now say the virus is more threatening than previously believed. Alabama had 14 human cases of the West Nile virus last year alone. Almost 17,000 Americans have been hit by West Nile since it first appeared in the United States in 1999. Almost 700 of those have died from the virus. New research finds that even so-called mild cases of West Nile fever can impair people for weeks or even months.