NATION : 28 Encephalitis Cases in Florida

MIAMI — Twenty-eight cases of St. Louis encephalitis have been confirmed in Florida in five weeks, forcing cancellation of night football games and other activities after dark, when the mosquitoes that carry the sometimes-fatal disease are most active.

The outbreak is the largest since 1977, when 110 cases of the disease were diagnosed and eight people died, health officials said today.

So far, no fatalities have been linked to this outbreak, but two people were reported comatose and 13 others hospitalized, state health officials said.

In addition to the 28 confirmed cases, at least seven probable cases are under investigation, authorities said. Florida usually records no more than three encephalitis cases annually.