Risk Factors for Severe West Nile Virus Disease in the U.S.

Renal disease, cancer, alcohol abuse, diabetes, and hypertension were independently associated with severe illness after WNV infection.

More than 1100 deaths from West Nile virus (WNV) disease were reported in the U.S. from 1999 through 2010. To assess medical risk factors for severe disease, the CDC invited all state and local health departments to participate in enhanced surveillance to collect information on preexisting medical conditions and medication use in patients with WNV disease.

Jurisdictions in 19 states participated and collected data on patients aged ≥18 with laboratory-confirmed or probable WNV disease between 2008 and 2010. Severe cases were defined as those in which patients died or were hospitalized. A total of 2963 WNV disease cases were reported nationally during the study period; enhanced data were collected for 1090 of the patients.

Examination of the en…

Reviewing Author

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine