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West Nile fever outbreak, Israel, 2000: epidemiologic aspects
M Weinberger1, S D Pitlik, D Gandacu
1Internal Medicine C & Infectious Diseases, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petach-Tikva 49100, Israel. miriw@post.tau.ac.il
Emerging Infectious Diseases
|October 5, 2001
Summary
West Nile fever (WN fever) outbreaks in Israel during 2000 saw high incidence and severity, particularly in central regions. The disease disproportionately affected older adults, leading to a significant case-fatality rate, especially among those over 50.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- West Nile fever (WN fever) is a mosquito-borne viral illness with varying clinical presentations.
- Previous WN fever outbreaks in Israel had not reached the scale observed in 2000.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of the 2000 WN fever outbreak in Israel.
- To assess the severity and outcomes of WN fever during this period.
Main Methods:
- Serological confirmation of 417 WN fever cases between August 1 and October 31, 2000.
- Analysis of case distribution, demographics, age-specific incidence, and mortality rates across Israel.
Main Results:
- 417 confirmed WN fever cases, with 78% hospitalized; highest incidence in central Israel.
- Mean age of 54 years; incidence increased with age, peaking in the 9th decade.
- 35 deaths (8.4% case-fatality rate), exclusively in patients over 50 years old.
- Central nervous system involvement in 73% of hospitalized patients.
Conclusions:
- The 2000 WN fever outbreak in Israel was characterized by countrywide spread, high hospitalization rates, and significant mortality.
- Older age was a critical risk factor for severe disease and death.
- The outbreak's severity and high death rate surpassed previous reports from Israel, highlighting the need for enhanced surveillance and control measures.