West Nile virus

West Nile virus is a notifiable condition. Standard precautions should be taken when handling blood, blood products, or other body fluids that might be infected.

Most infections are asymptomatic; however, about 20% of people develop a self-limiting, influenza-like illness. Of these patients, < 1% progress to neuroinvasive disease characterised by encephalitis, meningitis, or flaccid paralysis syndrome (known as West Nile poliomyelitis).

Diagnosis is confirmed with serological testing in patients with suspected neuroinvasive disease. IgM can be detected in most serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens at the time of clinical presentation.

Treatment is supportive. Patients with neuroinvasive disease require hospitalisation, respiratory support, and intravenous fluids. No vaccine or specific antiviral treatment is available.

An infection caused by West Nile virus (WNV), a flavivirus of the family Flaviviridae, that is transmitted to humans by mosquito bites or through contact with infected blood. The majority of cases are asymptomatic, but infection can cause a self-limited influenza-like illness (West Nile fever or WNF) or, rarely, West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND). Kunjin virus is a subtype of West Nile virus endemic to Oceania.