Since West Nile virus is expected to be prominent again this summer--especially on the West Coast--University of Toronto researchers are urging physicians to be on the lookout for its most common manifestations.
A University of Toronto study, published in the May issue of the quarterly Canadian Journal of Neuroscience, found that among hospitalized patients in Toronto with West Nile virus (WNV), encephalitis was the most common neurological manifestation. More surprisingly, encephalitis was an apparent risk factor for neuromuscular complications; it is very rare for this brain infection to involve other parts of the nervous system.
It is important to keep West Nile virus in mind in the summer and early fall when faced with unexplained neurological presentations such as encephalitis and paralysis, not only to guide investigations, but to identify those who may benefit from available therapies, says Dr. Cheryl Jaigobin, a professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto and a neurologist at the University Health Network. Jaigobin co-authored the study with Dr. Jodie Burton, a senior neurology resident.
Data from the WNV outbreak in Toronto indicate that more than 50 percent of the 26 WNV patients admitted to four Toronto tertiary-care facilities in August and September 2002 had neurological disease. Seventy-eight percent had encephalitis and of those, 82 percent developed neuromuscular dysfunction within days.
The Toronto experience was similar to earlier experiences of WNV infection in New York City, Israel, Louisiana and Cleveland. In all cases, advanced age and a compromised immune system were associated with a worse outcome.
The studys authors recommend that physicians follow the currently accepted WNV testing regimen. They also suggest that electrodiagnostic testing be performed on patients with unexplained weakness and in those who are critically ill to rule out acute flaccid paralysis syndrome, a severe neuromuscular complication of the disease which may lead to prolonged disability or death.
Source: University of Toronto
“A Coup Against Science”: Health Groups Decry Kennedy’s Firing of National Vaccine Advisory Panel
June 12th 2025Health leaders are outraged after HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. abruptly fired all 17 members of the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel, calling it a political purge that threatens public trust and vaccine safety.
AHE Exchange Summit 2025 Brings EVS and Infection Prevention Experts Together in Columbus, Ohio
June 9th 2025The Association for the Health Care Environment (AHE) is set to host its largest event of the year—Exchange Summit 2025—from June 8 to 11 in Columbus, Ohio. With over 600 environmental services (EVS) professionals expected to attend, this year’s conference focuses heavily on infection prevention, interdepartmental collaboration, and education that empowers frontline health care support leaders to improve patient safety and operational efficiency.