WNV Activity Update (Aug 12 04)

[1] United States: CDC MMWR: WNV Activity, Aug 4-10, 2004 + Cumulative
[2] Canada: 1st Probable Human Case WNV 2004, Ontario
[3] Japan: Suspected 1st Human Case WNV Likely Travel-Related

[1]
UNITED STATES: CDC MMWR, WNV ACTIVITY AUGUST 4-10, 2004 + CUMULATIVE
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) MMWR August
13, 2004. 53(31): 719-720
<http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5331a5.htm> [excerpts]

During August 4-10, a total of 89 cases of HUMAN WNV illness were
reported from 14 states (Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida,
Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New
Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming).

During 2004, a total of 24 states have reported a total of 495 cases of
human WNV illness to CDC through ArboNET ). [I.e., nearly 100
additional human cases have been reported this week, from 4 additional
states.] Of these, 274 (55%) cases were reported from Arizona. [About
20% from California; 10% from Colorado. See MMWR Table for details.]

A total of 281 (58%) of the 495 cases occurred in males; the median age
of patients was 51 years (range: 1 month--99 years). Illness onset
ranged from April 20 to August 3; 10 cases were fatal.

A total of 46 presumptive West Nile viremic BLOOD DONORS (PVDs) have
been reported to ArboNET in 2004. Of these, 33 (72%) were reported from
Arizona, seven from California, three from South Dakota, and one each
from Colorado, Iowa, and New Mexico. Of the 46 PVDs, two persons aged
66 and 69 years subsequently had neuroinvasive illness, and seven
persons (median age: 55 years; range: 22--72 years) subsequently had
West Nile fever.

In addition, during 2004, a total of 2,171 dead corvids and 342 other
DEAD BIRDS with WNV infection have been reported from 35 states.

WNV infections have been reported in HORSES from 24 states (Alabama,
Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois,
Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico,
North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas,
Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming) and in a dog from New Mexico. Two
unidentified animal species with WNV infection were reported from
Illinois and Nevada. Three seropositive sentinel horses were reported
from Puerto Rico.

WNV seroconversions have been reported in 336 SENTINEL CHICKEN FLOCKS
from seven states (Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Louisiana,
Nebraska, and Nevada) and in two WILD HATCHLING BIRDS from Ohio.

A total of 2,216 WNV-positive MOSQUITO POOLS have been reported from 27
states (Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia,
Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan,
Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New
York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and
Virginia).

Additional information about national WNV activity is available from
CDC at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm and at
http://westnilemaps.usgs.gov.

---------
[2]
CANADA: 1ST PROBABLE HUMAN CASE WNV 2004, ONTARIO

Excerpted From: ProMED-mail <http://www.promedmail.org> ID
20040807.2179
Source: Health Talk, Canada, Fri 6 Aug 2004 [edited]
<http://www.healthtalk.ca/west_nile_reported_08062004_8922.php>

Windsor, Ontario, woman tested WNV-positive, Dr. Allen Heimann, Medical
Officer of Health for Windsor-Essex County confirmed today....The 45
year-old female Windsor resident was hospitalized Mon 2 Aug 2004. She
is currently suffering from encephalitis and is listed in stable but
guarded condition.

[Pro-MED Moderator CP Comment: The current outbreak of WNV infection in
Canada is centered in Ontario. As of Wed Aug 4, 2004 four provinces
have reported WNV-positive dead birds: Ontario (115), Quebec (26),
Manitoba (16) and
Saskatchewan (8). Two provinces have reported WNV-positive mosquito
pools: Ontario (4), Manitoba (2). Therefore it is appropriate that the
first suspected human case of West Nile virus infection should be
located in Ontario. - Mod.CP]

----------------
[3]
JAPAN: SUSPECTED 1ST HUMAN CASE WNV LIKELY TRAVEL-RELATED

Excerpted from ProMED mail ID: 20040806.2156
Date: Fri 6 Aug 2004
From: Akira Goto <gotou.akira@daido-life.co.jp>, Assistant Medical
Director, Daido Life Insurance Company
Source: Kyodo News online,Fri 6 Aug 2004 [edited]
<http://home.kyodo.co.jp/all/display.jsp?an=20040806066>

An Okinawan woman recently back from a trip to the US is suspected of
having contracted either WNV or Japanese
encephalitis virus, health ministry officials said Thu 5 Aug 2004. The
National Institute of Infectious Diseases in Tokyo will investigate the
  cause of the disease, examining samples of the woman's blood and
spinal fluid. The results of the investigation are expected to be
released on Mon 9 Aug 2004 or later. If the woman, who is 42, tests
positive for the WNV, it will be Japan's 1st case of the disease. ...
Both types of virus are carried by mosquitoes and have similar genetic
make-up The symptoms of the diseases are also similar.

The woman was taken to hospital in Okinawa after suffering fever,
headache, vomiting and drowsiness during her return flight from the
United States on 31 Jul 2004, according to officials of the
Tuberculosis and Infectious Diseases Control Division of the Health,
Labor and Welfare Ministry. The woman traveled with her husband and son
to California, Arizona, Washington, New York, Boston and Pennsylvania
beginning on 17 Jun 2004. The woman has
since left the hospital and is recovering, and her husband and son are
healthy, the officials said.

The Ministry called for calm in Japan, even in the event that the case
is confirmed to involve WNV infection, saying WNV does not transmit
from person to person. Alarmed by a widespread outbreak of the virus in
the United States and Canada, the Ministry decided last month to extend
the period of banning blood donations from those returning to Japan
from abroad as part of stepped-up efforts to contain WNV, for which
there is no vaccine. ...

[Excerpt from ProMED Moderator CP's Comment: WNV and Japanese
encephalitis virus (unlikely to have been contracted in the USA) are
closely related viruses belonging to the Japanese encephalitis virus
group of mosquito-borne flaviviruses. These viruses can be
discriminated only by careful RT-PCR or serological tests.]

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Received on Thu Aug 12 17:02:12 2004