West Nile Victim Blames Sex For Illness

October 29, 2002

DENVER, Colorado (AP) -- A Colorado woman said Tuesday she believes she contracted the West Nile virus through sexual contact with her infected husband.

Health officials said they have no evidence the disease can be spread sexually, but won't rule out the possibility.

"We aren't going to be able to confirm or rule out that possibility since she was also in the area where her husband and son may have been infected. She was probably infected by a mosquito," said John Pape, an epidemiologist with the state Department of Public Health and Environment.

"But clearly we can't discount other theories now that we've seen the evidence of blood transmission," he said.

Jennifer Lei, 42, said she accompanied her husband and 18-year-old son on a Labor Day hunting trip to eastern Colorado but stayed just a day and protected herself from mosquitoes.

Edward and Jacob Lei came down with symptoms of the virus within a week of the trip and tested positive for West Nile last month. Jennifer Lei tested positive earlier this month.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there is no scientific evidence that West Nile can be transmitted sexually. However, health officials have said there is evidence that the virus can be spread through blood transfusions, and possibly through organ donation or even breast milk, all involving the exchange of bodily fluids.

West Nile first appeared in the United States in 1999, and has killed scores of horses and birds since then. It has infected 3,399 people in 39 states so far this year and killed 193, according to the CDC.

The virus is mostly spread through mosquito bites. In humans, the disease can cause flu-like symptoms and swelling of the brain that can be fatal. Most people bitten by an infected mosquito don't become ill.

http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/Central/10/29/west.nile.sex.ap/