West Nile Virus News and Research

Latest West Nile Virus News and Research

Death from locally acquired West Nile Virus within Los Angeles County

Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of WNV antibodies in a 91-year-old San Fernando Valley resident who passed away late last week. This is the third reported death for WNV in California and the first for Los Angeles County.

11 Aug 2004

Ontario's first probable human case of West Nile virus

Dr. Sheela Basrur, Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health and Dr. Allen Heimann, Medical Officer of Health for Windsor-Essex County confirmed Ontario's first probable human case of West Nile virus in the Windsor-Essex area.

6 Aug 2004

West Nile Virus found in Toronto

Health officials in Toronto have reported that mosquitoes found in the city have tested positive for the West Nile Virus.

31 Jul 2004

Arizona human cases of West Nile virus reach 232

Health officials have begun accepting test results for West Nile virus from private laboratories, leading to a sharp increase in the number of human West Nile virus cases in Arizona.

29 Jul 2004

California's first human death from West Nile virus (WNV)

West Nile virus (WNV) has claimed the life of a 57-year old Orange County man, making him the first to die in California from the virus, Dr. Richard Joseph Jackson, state public health officer, announced today.

26 Jul 2004

First human case of West Nile virus in Pennsylvania this year

The Pennsylvania Health Department today reported the first human case of West Nile virus in Pennsylvania this year. The individual is a 36-year-old Bucks County man.

26 Jul 2004

New book predicts a "vaccine century"

A new book published by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) predicts that the 21st century will become the "century of vaccines" thanks to rapid developments in the field of immunization.

21 Jul 2004

West Nile Virus in South Dakota

West Nile virus (WNV) was first detected in the Western Hemisphere in 1999 in New York City. The virus spread west across the continent, reaching South Dakota in 2002.

19 Jul 2004

The best way to avoid infection from mosquito bites is to flick not squash

An article published in this month's New England Journal of Medicine suggests that the best way to avoid infection from mosquito bites is to actually flick them away rather than squashing them into the skin.

19 Jul 2004

Arizona human cases of West Nile virus reach 114

A sharp increase in the number of human West Nile virus cases in Arizona is prompting health officials to urge all Arizonans to take steps to protect themselves, their families, friends, and neighbors.

16 Jul 2004

Research team developing new defenses against plague and smallpox

Using a federal biodefense grant, a Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center team will try to develop new approaches to immunizing people against the plague and smallpox, two of the most feared potential agents of bio-terrorism.

15 Jul 2004

Expansion of clinical trial of an experimental West Nile virus (WNV) treatment

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, one of the National Institutes of Health, has expanded its clinical trial of an experimental West Nile virus (WNV) treatment to about 60 sites throughout the United States and Canada.

15 Jul 2004

Emerging infectious diseases will continue to confront society in unpredictable ways as long as humans and microbes co-exist

Emerging infectious diseases, which have shaped the course of humanity and caused incalculable suffering and death, will continue to confront society in unpredictable ways as long as humans and microbes co-exist

9 Jul 2004

First isolation of West Nile Virus (WNV) in Nassau County

The New York State Department of Health reported today on the first isolation of West Nile Virus (WNV) in Nassau County, New York.

2 Jul 2004

19 additional human cases of West Nile virus have been confirmed in Arizona

A teen-ager from Pinal County is the 57th case of West Nile virus in humans in Arizona, and public health officials are urging all residents to take precautions against the disease.

2 Jul 2004

First presence of West Nile Virus in Kansas this year

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has confirmed the presence of West Nile Virus (WNV) in a bird in Sedgwick County. This is the first confirmed WNV activity in 2004.

29 Jun 2004

West Nile virus prevention

Whether you're hitting the hiking trail, barbecuing in the back yard, or camping out in the great outdoors, you'll want to protect against mosquito bites.

14 Jun 2004

Dead birds collected in five northern Illinois counties have tested positive for West Nile virus

Dead birds collected in five northern Illinois counties have tested positive for West Nile virus, Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, state public health director, today announced.

11 Jun 2004

America's first two WNV encephalitis cases of 2004 respond to treatment

GenoMed, Inc. has announced that the country's second case of West Nile virus encephalitis has responded promptly to its treatment approach. So far, GenoMed's treatment is showing a 100% response rate among 13 immunocompetent patients. The sooner the treatment is instituted, the more rapid and more complete the response.

10 Jun 2004

Possible new type of zoonose in England

A short item was considered by the UK Zoonoses Group on a nervous condition in a heifer which had suffered partial leg paralysis. It was initially diagnosed as suspected botulism.

9 Jun 2004