West Nile case count lower than last year's

Sep 2, 2004 (CIDRAP News) – Another 210 cases of West Nile virus infection were reported in the past week, but the case count this year remains well below last year's number at this point, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

A total of 1,053 cases, with 28 deaths, have been reported in 36 states, the CDC says in the Sep 3 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. That compares with 1,856 cases and 37 deaths as of Sep 3, 2003. The CDC reported 414 cases for the week of Aug 28 to Sep 3, 2003.

California, with 326 cases, has replaced Arizona (316 cases) as the hardest-hit state this year, according to the CDC figures. The two states together account for 61% of all cases. Colorado has had 141 cases; no other state has had more than 37. California has had nine deaths and Arizona has had four.

The CDC says evidence of West Nile virus has been found in blood given by 85 donors this year. Three donors subsequently had neuroinvasive illness, and 15 donors had West Nile fever.

CDC. West Nile virus activity—United States, August 25-31, 2004. MMWR 2004;53(34):795-6 [Full text]