Neurologic Manifestations and Outcome of West Nile Virus Infection

Abstract

Most human infections with West Nile virus (WNV) are subclinical or manifest as a mild febrile illness, but a small proportion of patients (1^-4 Although recent WNV outbreaks have been associated with severe neurologic disease,^1-5 retrospective studies have failed to identify clinical features that distinguish WNV from other viral encephalitides.^1,5-9 The US outbreak of WNV in 2002¹⁰ presented an opportunity to assess neurologic manifestations, laboratory and neurodiagnostic findings, and outcome associated with WNV infection.^1,7,11