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Outlook

The prognosis of West Nile virus is directly related to the severity of the illness and the age of the person with the infection.

• Those with mild infection recover fully with no permanent disability.

• Death occurs in 12% of people with West Nile encephalitis. The elderly are most at risk for death. Younger people recover much more quickly and are much less likely to show signs and symptoms of severe illness. In the New York outbreak, most cases occurred in people 50 years and older.