Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 3, 2025

In Vivo Imaging Systems IVIS Detection of a Neuro-Invasive Encephalitic Virus
Published on: December 2, 2012
Expanding the Differential During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Fatal West Nile Virus Neuroinvasive Disease
Stephen J Titus1, Robert N Suter2, Anh T Hoang2
1From the Family Medicine Residency, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, TX (SJT, RNS, ATH, PAF); Texas A&M School of Medicine, College Station, Bryan, TX (SJT, RNS). stephen.titus@bswhealth.org.
Abstract:
The ever-evolving pandemic of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has the potential to drown out other viruses continuing to infect communities. To highlight this, we present 2 cases of fatal West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease that occurred within 2 weeks of each other. Since the first positive case of West Nile virus in the United States, there have been 2 epidemics in the past 2 decades, most often occurring in regions of North Texas and Southern California, which have been areas of high-incidence for COVID-19. It is important for the health care provider to recognize diagnostic biases and maintain broad differentials for the patient presenting with fever and other symptoms associated with COVID-19.

