Controlling Urban Epidemics of West Nile Virus Infection

THIS SUMMER, DALLAS, TEXAS, HAS BEEN IN THE CENTER of its worst-ever regional epidemic of West Nile virus (WNV) infection, with one-quarter of the nation’s cases identified in Dallas County. With a record high number of trapped mosquitoes testing positive for WNV, from June 20 to August 21 WNV infections have been confirmed in 270 county residents; 160 have been hospitalized, 51 have required intensive care unit admission, and 11 have died. Given this epidemic in Dallas, which has spilled over into Fort Worth and the 14 surrounding counties, and similar WNV activity in Louisiana, Alabama, Oklahoma, and the Midwest, physicians and the public should be aware of key information about WNV infection to enable informed decision making in countering urban WNV epidemics.