West Nile Virus and West Nile Encephalitis (WNE)

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Medical Author:

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

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Medical Editor:

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Cunha's educational background includes a BS in Biology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a DO from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey.

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• West Nile Virus Overview
• West Nile Virus and West Nile Encephalitis Causes
• West Nile Virus and West Nile Encephalitis Symptoms and Signs
• When to Seek Medical Care
• West Nile Virus and West Nile Encephalitis Diagnosis
• West Nile Virus and West Nile Encephalitis Treatment
• Self-Care at Home
• Medical Treatment for West Nile Virus and West Nile Encephalitis
• Follow-up
• West Nile Virus and West Nile Encephalitis Prevention
• West Nile Virus and West Nile Encephalitis Prognosis
• West Nile Virus and West Nile Encephalitis Pictures
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors
• Read more on West Nile Virus from Healthwise
• West Nile Virus Slideshow Pictures
• Take the MRSA Quiz
• Infectious Mononucleosis Slideshow Pictures
• Viewer Comments: West Nile Virus Treatment
• Viewer Comments: West Nile Virus - Symptoms

West Nile virus is a Flaviviridiae virus transmitted to humans by mosquito bites. Virus symptoms range from none to severe: encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord). The disease the virus causes is termed West Nile Encephalitis (WNE). WNE currently is endemic in Asia, Africa, Middle East and can be detected in many areas in the US (see map below).

West Nile virus was discovered in 1937 in the West Nile district of Uganda. West Nile emerged in the United States for the first time in the New York City area in August 1999. There were 62 confirmed human cases and 7 deaths during this outbreak, creating widespread concern.

• Since the initial 1999 New York City outbreak, the cases of West Nile encephalitis have been relatively limited. In 2002, there were a total of 480 reported cases in humans and 24 deaths (as of August 28, 2002).
• The distribution of the virus has spread across the United States, as determined from surveillance of infected birds by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In a little more than a year, West Nile spread to 11 states along the East Coast. In 2002, the virus spread to Florida, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. Cases are also being seen in the Dakotas, Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming.
• Whether West Nile encephalitis will present a serious health risk to the United States in the future is unknown. Using precautions directed at limiting contact by mosquitoes is the best preventive measure at this time.

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