West Nile On The Rise

Authorities say a half-dozen people in Alabama have been diagnosed with the West Nile virus this year. State public health officials say it's the highest number of cases in three years. The virus, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, causes symptoms such as fever, body aches, joint paints, vomiting, diarrhea or rash in about one out of every five people infected. Authorities say most people with the mosquito-borne virus won't get sick. Symptoms include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness and paralysis.

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