Neuroinvasive Disease and West Nile Virus Infection, North Dakota, USA, 1999–2008

Abstract

To determine risk for West Nile virus (WNV) neuroinvasive disease in North Dakota, we tested plasma samples from blood donors for WNV IgG and compared infection rates with reported WNV neuroinvasive disease incidence. We estimate that 1 in 244 WNV infections leads to neuroinvasive disease; risk is substantially increased among men and older persons.

Keywords

• West Nile virus
• epidemiology
• serology
• incidence
• blood donors
• neuroinvasive disease