BEIJING, Aug. 14 (Xinhuanet) -- Due to the extreme heat and recent rains in the US, an increasing number of people have been infected with the West Nile virus.

In the southern state of Texas, 15 people have died after contracting the illness. 351 cases of infection have been reported. Nearly 19 percent of the lakes in Chicago tested positive for the virus. Dallas County is conducting aerial sprays to try to contain the mosquitoes that carry the disease. Residents have been urged to keep mosquitoes out of their homes and to wear long pants.

Commonly seen in temperate and tropical regions, the West Nile virus was first identified in 1937 in Uganda. The virus mainly infects birds, but is also known to infect human bodies mainly through mosquito bites. Common symptoms include headache, chills, excessive sweating, and weakness.

(Source: CNTV.cn)