West Nile Virus Disease in Children

Since 1999, when West Nile virus (WNV) was first detected in North America, >27,000 cases of WNV disease have been reported in the U.S. Few cases have occurred in children, and epidemiologic data for children with this disease are limited. Now, researchers report data for all pediatric WNV disease cases (laboratory confirmed or probable, by national case definitions) reported to the CDC from 1999 through 2007.

In all, 1478 WNV disease cases were reported in children aged <18 years, and 59% involved boys. Rates were highest in the Great Plains and Mountain regions. West Nile fever (WNF) was diagnosed in 1009 children (68%) and West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND) was diagnosed in 443 (30%; 4% of all WNND cases in the U.S. for 1999–2007); th…