Brazil Reports First West Nile Virus Case to World Health Organization

On Dec. 9, 2014, the Ministry of Health of Brazil reported a case of West Nile virus (WNV) in the state of Piauí (PI) to the World Health Organization (WHO). This is the first detection of a human case of WNV infection in Brazil.

The case has been under investigation since August 2014, when the patient had the first symptoms. The infection was laboratory-confirmed on Nov. 28, 2014. The patient, who was admitted to hospital in Teresina (PI), has been discharged and will undergo rehabilitation and physical therapy to recover.

Four other people presented symptoms; however, laboratory tests ruled out WNV infection. In addition to those with symptoms, tests were performed on 18 other individuals in the area and all results were negative.

Source: WHO