FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ON March 31, 2003

West Nile Virus Cases Analyzed for Prevalence and Symptoms

Embargoed for meeting release until 11:00 am HT, Mon., March 31, 2003

Honolulu, Hawaii -

Researchers from Chicago have identified focal neurological deficits as a major group of presenting symptoms among patients with West Nile Virus infection, which became epidemic in the United States in 2002. Focal neurological deficits included visual loss, muscle weakness, paralysis of one half of the body, abnormally slow movement, tremor with rigidity, numbness or tingling and unstable gait. Findings of their study are being presented at the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting in Honolulu, March 29-April 5, 2003. West Nile Fever, generally transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito, is usually a relatively mild infection. It is estimated that about 20 percent of those infected will develop West Nile Fever, characterized by mild, flu-like symptoms, a skin rash on the trunk of the body and swollen lymph nodes. West Nile fever typically lasts only a few days and does not appear to cause any long-term health effects. The more severe form of the disease is the West Nile encephalitis or meningitis, characterized by high fevers, headache, stiff neck, disorientation, seizures, coma and focal neurological deficits. The death rate among West Nile virus infection cases from the summer of 2002 was 5 to 6 percent according to the latest Center for Disease Control reports. Illinois experienced a higher incidence of West Nile Virus infection cases than any other state: 836, or 20 percent of all U.S. cases reported by January 2003. To aid in diagnosis and treatment, researchers from three Chicago area medical centers were interested to know more about presenting symptoms. Detailed analysis of 28 cases from three hospitals between the months of August through October of 2002, revealed that more than half (54 percent) of their patients exhibited a neurological symptom that mimicked other neurological diseases such as stroke, Parkinson’s, Bells’ palsy, polio and Guillain-Barre syndrome. The remainder of their cases presented with a meningitis or encephalitis without any focal symptoms. "As West Nile virus cases continue to be seen across the U.S., we hope neurologists and patients benefit from the findings of our study by being aware of the varied presentations of the West Nile virus," concluded study author Nidhi K. Watson, M.D. of Rush Medical Center, Chicago, Ill.

The American Academy of Neurology is the world's largest association of neurologists and neuroscience professionals, with over 40,000 members. The AAN's mission is to enhance member career fulfillment and promote brain health for all. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke, concussion, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, headache and migraine.

For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit AAN.com or find us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

Editor's Notes: Dr. Watson will present the research at the AAN’s 55th Annual Meeting in Honolulu during a presentation at 2:00 p.m. on Tues., April 1, in Room 313C of the Hawaii Convention Center (HCC), and will be available to answer media questions during a briefing at 11:00 a.m., Mon., March 31, in the AAN Press Room, Room 327 of the HCC. All listed times are for Hawaiian-Aleutian Standard Time (HT).