West Nile fever outbreak, Israel, 2000: epidemiologic aspects.
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.
Weinberger
M
M
Internal Medicine C & Infectious Diseases, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petach-Tikva 49100, Israel. miriw@post.tau.ac.il
Pitlik
S D
SD
Gandacu
D
D
Lang
R
R
Nassar
F
F
Ben David
D
D
Rubinstein
E
E
Izthaki
A
A
Mishal
J
J
Kitzes
R
R
Siegman-Igra
Y
Y
Giladi
M
M
Pick
N
N
Mendelson
E
E
Bin
H
H
Shohat
T
T
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