South Carolina Man Is First West Nile Case in 2003, State Says

July 8, 2003

(Bloomberg) -- A South Carolina man is the first American reported to have West Nile virus this year, state health officials said.

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had verified that the patient had the mosquito-borne disease. The CDC can't confirm that statement, said K.D. Hoskins, an agency spokeswoman.

More than 4,000 people were infected with West Nile virus in the U.S. last year, and more than 300 died, according to the CDC. Infectious-disease experts have said they expect a larger outbreak in 2003 because hot, dry weather promotes breeding of the mosquitoes that spread the disease.

South Carolina had one case of West Nile virus and no deaths in 2002. This year's patient lives in Oconee County in northwestern South Carolina, state officials said.

The disease causes fever, headaches, and rashes in about one of five people infected, and may lead to paralysis or brain infections in a small percentage of patients.

The West Nile virus is also spread through infected blood and organs, public health workers discovered during last year's outbreak. In late June, U.S. blood banks began using tests developed by Chiron Corp. and Roche Holding AG to screen all donations in an effort to prevent accidental transmission.

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