title: West Nile fever outbreak, Israel, 2000: epidemiologic aspects.
abstract: From August 1 to October 31, 2000, 417 cases of West Nile (WN) fever were serologically confirmed throughout Israel; 326 (78%) were hospitalized patients. Cases were distributed throughout the country; the highest incidence was in central Israel, the most populated part. Men and women were equally affected, and their mean age was 54+/-23.8 years (range 6 months to 95 years). Incidence per 1,000 population increased from 0.01 in the 1st decade of life to 0.87 in the 9th decade. There were 35 deaths (case-fatality rate 8.4%), all in patients >50 years of age. Age-specific case-fatality rate increased with age. Central nervous system involvement occurred in 170 (73%) of 233 hospitalized patients. The countrywide spread, number of hospitalizations, severity of the disease, and high death rate contrast with previously reported outbreaks in Israel.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine C & Infectious Diseases, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petach-Tikva 49100, Israel. miriw@post.tau.ac.il
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weinberger
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Pitlik
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gandacu
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nassar
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ben David
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rubinstein
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Izthaki
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mishal
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kitzes
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Siegman-Igra
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giladi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pick
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mendelson
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bin
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shohat
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002138:Calibration; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003710:Demography; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification