I'm not so very sure that it is being blown out of proportion. I have one horse with it now and my vet bills are already nearing $1000. It hits fast and hard, killing most horses the first day of symptoms. I also know a number of people that have West Nile symptoms, some have been pretty sick and it's really not even peak mosquito season yet. My mother is 94 and if she gets bit then she will most likely die. Not to slam your post but I would say that it's bad enough. I guess it depends on your perspective. If you are young, healthy and don't have animals or anyone at risk in your family, it's no big deal. On the other hand, the economic costs and risks to the elderly can be huge. On the other hand, if you do have someone at risk and see a dead magpie nearby, I can assure you that you will not sleep very well.