Health officials think a mild winter and early spring fostered the breeding of mosquitoes that bite infected birds.

BBC: West Nile virus death toll in US jumps by a third

In Japan Wal-Mart also decided to take a small bite first, buying a 6% stake in retailer Seiyu in early 2002, then upping it to 34% later in the year.

FORBES: It's Nice To Be Big