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Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Detection of Infectious Virus from Field-collected Mosquitoes by Vero Cell Culture Assay
Published on: June 9, 2011
Clinical description and follow-up investigation of human West Nile virus cases
Kristy Gottfried1, Robbie Quinn, Tim Jones
1Tennessee Department of Health, Communicable and Environmental Disease Service, Nashville, TN 37247-3901, USA.
Objectives:
The objective of this study was to investigate long-term outcomes after West Nile virus infection.
Methods:
We reviewed the medical records of persons reported with West Nile virus in Tennessee in 2002 and interviewed cases 1 year after acute illness.
Results:
In 2002, 56 cases of West Nile virus were reported in Tennessee; 48 (84%) had meningitis or encephalitis. Of those, 9 (19%) died during acute infection and 12 (25%) died within 6 months of illness onset. Patients with West Nile virus neurologic illness spent a median of 10 days in the hospital and were unable to resume normal activities for a median of 25 days. One year later, 12 of 22 (55%) persons reported that they were not fully recovered, with symptoms including fatigue, weakness, difficulty ambulating, and memory problems.
Conclusions:
West Nile virus infection leads to high rates of mortality and substantial persistent morbidity. Prevention efforts should be targeted to populations at highest risk of severe sequelae.
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