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West Nile Virus


West Nile Virus (WNV) Resources

General Information

DOH West Nile Virus homepage
(Web format)
WNV Fact Sheet
(Web format)
WNV Incidence Rates
(PDF format)
CDC WNV Home page
(Non-DOH web site)
Reporting Forms
WNV
reporting form

(PDF format)
WNV
Enhanced Surveillance form

(PDF format)

Public Health
and Health Care

Surveillance and Reporting Guidelines
(PDF Format)

Cause: West Nile virus.

Illness and treatment: About 80% of those infected are asymptomatic, around 20% have WNV fever (fever, headache, rash), and less than 1% develop WNV neuroinvasive disease (meningitis or encephalitis, paralysis). Treatment is supportive.

Sources: Many bird species are reservoirs and mosquitoes are the vectors, transmitting the virus through bites to humans and other mammals such as horses.

Prevention: Avoid mosquito bites by wearing appropriate clothing and using insect repellents. Make sure windows and doors are "bug tight."  Maintain window screens. Eliminate breeding sites by draining standing water such as in pots or tires.

Recent Washington trends: Infected birds and horses were first detected in 2002. The first locally acquired human infections were reported in 2006 from Pierce and Clark counties.

2008: Three cases of endemically acquired West Nile virus disease were reported. In addition, one presumptive viremic blood donor was identified.

For current or historical  information on WNV in Washington State, please see the DOH West Nile Virus hompage.

Arboviral (arthropod-borne viral) Diseases, including West Nile virus (WNV) infections, must be reported to local health jurisdictions in Washington State.

Purpose of Reporting and Surveillance

  • To identify areas in which West Nile Virus (WNV) is being transmitted.

  • To target areas for public education about reducing mosquito habitats and preventing mosquito bites.

  • To provide information for mosquito control and environmental health initiatives. 

Reporting Requirements

  • Health care providers: notifiable to Local Health Jurisdiction within 3 working days.

  • Hospitals: notifiable to Local Health Jurisdiction within 3 working days.

  • Laboratories: isolation of WNV or detection of viral antibody or nucleic acid notifiable to Local Health Jurisdiction in which within 2 working days.

  • Local Health Jurisdictions: notifiable to DOH Communicable Disease Epidemiology within 7 calendar days of case investigation completion or summary information required within 21 calendar days.

  • Veterinarians: Notifiable to Local Health Jurisdiction or Washington State Department of Agriculture.

Last update
November 2009


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Communicable Disease Epidemiology
Office of Epidemiology
Washington State Department of Health
MS: K17-9, 1610 NE 150th St.
Shoreline, WA 98155-9701

Consultation and technical assistance are available to local health jurisdictions in Washington State:
Phone (206) 418-5500

FAX (206) 418-5515

24-hour contact (inside Washington State only)  1-877-539-4344

Washington residents can contact their local health jurisdictions for assistance


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Last Update : 11/09/2009 10:11 AM