With the return of summer in the U.S. comes a familiar foe, mosquitoes carrying the West Nile Virus that can affect birds, animals and humans.

In the flood-ravaged midwest, health officials are concerned that standing water could provide the perfect breeding ground for scores of mosquitoes.

The Centers for Disease Control says so far this year, eight human cases have been reported in five states (Arizona, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas), and animal cases in nine states (Alabama, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, South Carolina, Texas and Utah).

Last year, there were 2,630 human cases of West Nile reported in the United States. Health officials have been tracking West Nile since the disease first showed up in New York in 1999.

The CDC advises people to protect against mosquito bites with the following tips:

• Use Mosquito Repellent
• Eliminate standing water where mosquitoes can lay eggs
• Install or Repair Window and Door Screens
• Support Community-Based Mosquito Control Programs

Photo above courtesy of the Illinois Department of Public Health website.