West Nile virus (WNV) activity expa...

West Nile virus (WNV) activity expanded substantially in the United States last year, with the number of reported human infections increasing more than 20-fold from the previous three years, according to provisional data from the Center for Disease ascendency and Prevention (CDC). The report, "Provisional Surveillance Summary of the West Nile Virus Epidemic--United States, January-November 2002" is available online at www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5150a1.htm.

In 2002 there were 3389 human cases of WNV-associated illness reported, compared with 149 cases reported between 1999 and 2001 West Nile meningoencephalitis (69 percent of WNV cases) was the mostly common illness, followed by West Nile heat (21 percent), and unspecified illness (10 percent) attack of illness ranged from June 10 to November 4 and the epidemic peak occurr during the week that [i]finale[/i]ed August 24.

WNV activity was reported in 44 states and the District of Columbia in 2002 compared with 27 states and the District of Columbia in 2001 Nearly sum of two units thirds of the WNV infections that affected humans last year were reported in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Louisiana, and Indiana.

The median age of bodily forms infected with WNV was 55 years. Of the 2354 characters with West Nile meningoencephalitis last year, 199 (9 percent) died; sum of two units (0.3 percent) persons with West Nile excitement died.

COPYRIGHT 2003 American Academy of Family Physicians

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