West Nile Virus Activity --- United States, 2001

In 2001, West Nile virus (WNV) activity was reported from 359 counties in 27 states and the District of Columbia (DC) to ArboNET, a web-based, surveillance data network maintained by 54 state and local public health agencies and CDC. This activity represented a marked increase from 2000, when WNV activity was reported from 138 counties in 12 states and DC (1). This report summarizes surveillance data for 2001, which indicate that 66 human illnesses were reported from 10 states and that widespread WNV activity in birds, horses, and mosquitoes extended into the midwestern United States and several southern states unaffected previously. The findings in this report underscore the need for public education, increased WNV surveillance aimed at early viral detection, and sustained, integrated mosquito-control activities.

In 2001, CDC conducted WNV surveillance with 54 ArboNET surveillance coordinators from health departments in the contiguous 48 states and six jurisdictions (Chicago, DC, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, and Philadelphia). Local WNV surveillance networks collected and tested for WNV or antibodies specimens from human and veterinary patients, dead birds, captive sentinel animals (mostly chickens), wild-caught birds, and mosquitoes. Test results, including county and week of specimen collection or illness onset, were entered into local electronic databases, and standardized summaries were forwarded weekly to CDC's ArboNET database system. In addition, reports of human WNV cases and other reports of WNV activity were reported to CDC by telephone, facsimile, or e-mail.

In 2001, a total of 66 human cases of WNV disease (64 persons with central nervous system infections [WNV meningoencephalitis] and two persons with uncomplicated WNV fever) were reported from 39 counties in 10 states (Figure 1). New York (13 WNV meningoencephalitis cases; two WNV fever cases), New Jersey (12 WNV meningoencephalitis cases), and Florida (12 WNV meningoencephalitis cases) accounted for 39 (59%) reported cases. Among 64 persons with WNV meningoencephalitis, the median age was 68 years (range: 9--90 years). Nine (14%) cases were fatal; the median age of these persons was 70 years (range: 44--90 years). The dates of human illness onset ranged from July 13 to December 7 (Figure 2). In 36 (92%) counties reporting human cases, the first case was preceded by at least one report of a WNV-infected bird, sentinel animal, horse, or mosquito pool; 320 counties detected enzootic WNV activity but no human infections.

Of the 359 counties reporting WNV activity, 328 (91%) counties in 27 states and DC reported 7,333 dead WNV-infected birds (5,154 crows from two Corvus species, 966 blue jays, and 1,213 birds from 71 other avian species). In 238 (66%) counties, dead crows were the first indicators of WNV activity. Of 9,679 crows tested for WNV, 5,154 (53%) were positive for WNV infection compared with 2,179 (9%) of 24,898 birds from other species. Dead infected birds were collected during April 4--December 26. A total of 55 seropositive wild-caught birds were reported from DC and five counties in three states (Florida, New York, and Ohio) and represented the first detection of WNV activity in two of these counties. A total of 218 seroconverting captive sentinel animals were reported from 26 counties in five states (Florida, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, and Virginia). In four Florida counties, seroconverting sentinel chickens were the first sign of WNV activity.

Horses were the only WNV-infected nonhuman mammals reported in 2001. A total of 733 equine cases were reported from 127 counties in 19 states (Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Virginia); this represented a 12-fold increase compared with 2000 (1). Florida reported 483 equine cases (66% of all reports) from 40 counties. The first equine illness preceded the first human illness; equine illness onset dates ranged from June 27 to December 18.

In 2001, a total of 564 counties conducted WNV testing on approximately 1.4 million mosquitoes from 91 species. WNV was detected in 919 mosquito pools (27 species) reported from 71 counties in 16 states (Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia) and DC. As in 2000, two enzootic vector species, Culex pipiens and Cx. restuans, collectively accounted for the majority (59%) of WNV-positive pools. WNV also was found for the first time in several additional species of potential public health importance, including Anopheles quadrimaculatus, Coquilletidia perturbans, Cx. nigripalpus, Cx. quinquefasciatus, Ochlerotatus sollicitans, Oc. taeniorhynchus, and Psorophora columbiae.

Reported by: DR O'Leary, DVM, RS Nasci, PhD, GL Campbell, MD, AA Marfin, MD, Div of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, CDC.

Editorial Note:

The 2001 surveillance data indicate that the geographic area with WNV activity has increased and that dead WNV-infected birds were reported in western Arkansas, southern Maine, and southern Florida. Seven states reported human cases for the first time. Canadian health authorities also detected WNV activity in dead birds from southwestern Ontario, a region of lower latitude than the northern limits of WNV detection in the United States (2). In 2001, a case of WNV encephalitis was diagnosed serologically in a resident of the Cayman Islands who had no recent travel history (CDC, unpublished data, 2001), suggesting that WNV has entered the Caribbean region. Human illness onsets on July 13 and December 7 in persons in Florida and Georgia, respectively, mark the earliest and latest reported human cases since the introduction of WNV to the United States. Extended seasonal activity in 2001 occurred in the northeast; two of five persons with illness onset on October 15 or later were from Massachusetts. The widespread occurrence of human cases and the occurrence of human cases outside of WNV's usual season (summer and early fall) suggest that 1) state and local health departments in the contiguous 48 states should, at a minimum, establish enhanced passive hospital-based surveillance for human cases of encephalitis of unknown etiology and 2) this surveillance should extend beyond mid-October (3).

In 2001, infected birds, mosquitoes, or horses were detected in 16 states in which no previous WNV activity in animals had been reported. These findings demonstrate the dramatic spread of WNV westward and southward since 1999, when the virus was first recognized in North America. Although virus activity was detected for the first time in many southern states in 2001, the simultaneous appearance of two epizootic foci very early in 2001---one in the mid-Atlantic region and one in the southeast along the common borders of Florida, Georgia, and Alabama---suggests that WNV was introduced into the southern states by migrating birds in late 2000, but circulated at levels below the detection threshold of surveillance. Because many migratory bird species use well-established north-south flyways along the eastern seaboard, this movement of WNV from the mid-Atlantic region to the south Atlantic region and the Gulf states was expected; however, the reasons for WNV's rapid expansion into multiple foci in the central United States are less obvious. Possible mechanisms include carriage of the virus by the return of infected birds from wintering sites in southern states or by their incremental east-to-west local movements (4).

Surveillance of dead birds is essential in monitoring WNV activity. Infection in species within the family Corvidae (e.g., crows and jays) is a particularly important indicator of WNV activity. In 2001, the proportion of tested birds that were infected continued to be disproportionately higher in crows than all other birds (53% versus 9%). Although 83% of infected birds reported were either crows or blue jays, this might be attributed to greater emphasis placed by states on monitoring these species. State and local health department surveillance programs should continue to emphasize the collection and testing of dead corvids. However, because noncorvid birds were first indicators of WNV activity in 57 (16%) of 359 counties where the virus was detected, surveillance programs should include these other species wherever possible. In 2001, serosurveillance of sentinel chickens and wild-caught birds contributed additional information on WNV transmission and provided collectively the initial signal of WNV activity in six counties. The limitations of these supplemental systems are documented (3,5) and their overall utility continues to be evaluated.

The 2001 equine WNV epizootic was unprecedented given its geographic span and the number of horses affected. In addition to a substantial epizootic in the northeast, an intense equine epizootic in Georgia and Florida accounted for 75% (551) of all reported equine cases. Scattered cases also were detected as far west as Louisiana, in the Ohio valley, and in northern Illinois. In August 2001, the U.S. Department of Agriculture granted conditional licensure of a commercial equine WNV vaccine because of the detrimental effect of these events on equine health and industry. Because WNV-infected horses are unlikely to develop viremias sufficient to infect feeding mosquitoes, they are unlikely to pose a risk to humans (6). However, equine epizootics reflect intense enzootic WNV activity in mosquitoes, which might place humans at increased risk.

In 2001, Culex mosquitoes (Cx. pipiens, Cx. restuans, and Cx. salinarius) were the most commonly identified mosquito vectors of WNV in the United States, and since 1999 these species have been found in close spatial and temporal proximity to the majority of human cases of WNV meningoencephalitis (1,7,8). Detection of WNV in several common human-feeding mosquito species (e.g., Cx. nigripalpus, Oc. sollicitans, Oc. taeniorhynchus, and Cq. perturbans) and recent studies demonstrating their ability to transmit this virus under laboratory conditions (9,10) raise concerns about increased human risk in areas where these species are common.

The data available to the ArboNET system likely underestimate actual geographic distribution and intensity of WNV virus transmission in the United States. Data provided by the 54 ArboNET coordinators are derived largely from local health unit surveillance efforts, which vary according to capacity and ability. The 28 jurisdictions reporting activity probably support additional, undetected WNV transmission within their borders, and undetected foci of transmission probably exist in counties and states that have not reported transmission activity. In addition, some detected WNV infections might not have been entered into the ArboNET system.

In Florida, epizootic WNV activity has been reported since January 2002, indicating that year-round transmission is occurring in that state. In northern states, WNV activity has been reported since April. The extended seasonal activity, the broad vertebrate host and vector-mosquito range, and the establishment of multiple epizootic foci throughout the eastern United States demonstrate that WNV has established itself permanently in temperate North America and strongly suggest that it will spread further westward. This underscores the need for increased surveillance geared toward early viral detection and mosquito-control activities that weaken or break amplification cycles and decrease the risk for human and domestic animal infection with WNV. Prevention activities should continue to include 1) public education programs urging residential source reduction and personal protective measures to reduce mosquito exposure; 2) development of sustained, community-level integrated mosquito-surveillance and management programs (3); and 3) high-priority emphasis on the control of urban Culex mosquitoes.

Acknowledgments

This report is based on data prepared by ArboNET surveillance coordinators in local and state health departments and ArboNET technical staff, Div of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, CDC.

References

1. Marfin AA, Petersen LR, Eidson ME, et al. Widespread West Nile virus activity, eastern United States, 2000. Emerg Infect Dis 2001;7:730--1.
2. Health Canada. West Nile virus surveillance 2002: Canada. Infectious Diseases News Brief. Centre for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Population and Public Health Branch, Health Canada. June 7, 2002. Available at http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/pphb-dgspsp/bid-bmi/dsd-dsm/nb-ab/2002/nb2302_e.html 
3. CDC. Update: epidemic/epizootic West Nile virus in the United States: revised guidelines for surveillance, prevention, and control, 2001. Available at http://webdev.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/resources/wnv-guidelines-apr-2001.pdf.
4. Rappole JH, Derrickson SR, Hubalek Z. Migratory birds and spread of West Nile virus in the western hemisphere. Emerg Infect Dis 2000;6:319--28.
5. Komar N. West Nile virus surveillance using sentinel birds. Ann NY Acad Sci 2001;951:58--73.
6. Bunning ML, Bowen RA, Cropp CB, et al. Experimental infection of horses with West Nile virus. Emerg Infect Dis 2002;8:380--6.
7. Kulasekera VL, Kramer L, Nasci R, et al. West Nile virus infection in mosquitoes, birds, horses, and humans, Staten Island, New York, 2000. Emerg Infect Dis 2001;7:722--5.
8. Nasci RS, White DJ, Stirling H, et al. West Nile virus isolates from mosquitoes in New York and New Jersey, 1999. Emerg Infect Dis 2001;7:626--9.
9. Sardelis MR, Turrell MJ, Dohm DJ, et al. Vector competence of selected North American Culex and Coquillettidia mosquitoes for West Nile virus. Emerg Infect Dis 2001;7:1018--22.
10. Turrell MJ, O'Guinn ML, Dohm JD, et al. Vector competence of North American mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) for West Nile virus. J Med Entomol 2001;38:130--4.

Figure 1


Return to top.
Figure 2


Return to top.

Use of trade names and commercial sources is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. References to non-CDC sites on the Internet are provided as a service to MMWR readers and do not constitute or imply endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. CDC is not responsible for the content of pages found at these sites. URL addresses listed in MMWR were current as of the date of publication.

Disclaimer   All MMWR HTML versions of articles are electronic conversions from ASCII text into HTML. This conversion may have resulted in character translation or format errors in the HTML version. Users should not rely on this HTML document, but are referred to the electronic PDF version and/or the original MMWR paper copy for the official text, figures, and tables. An original paper copy of this issue can be obtained from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), Washington, DC 20402-9371; telephone: (202) 512-1800. Contact GPO for current prices.

Page converted: 6/13/2002

HOME  |  ABOUT MMWR  |  MMWR SEARCH  |  DOWNLOADS  |  RSS |  CONTACT POLICY  |  DISCLAIMER  |  ACCESSIBILITY

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1600 Clifton Rd, MailStop E-90, Atlanta, GA 30333, U.S.A Department of Health and Human Services

This page last reviewed 6/13/2002