West Nile Virus & Mosquito Surveillance Data

Vector-Borne Disease

Public Health

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What you need to know

The first case of West Nile Virus in Nebraska was reported in 2002.

In 2023, there were 150 clinical cases of West Nile Virus reported in Nebraska. 91 cases were neuroinvasive and 56 were non-neuroinvasive. This was an increase from the 64 total cases reported in 2022 (37 neuroinvasive, 27 non-neuroinvasive).

It is important to note that for every neuroinvasive case of West Nile Virus, there is an estimated 30-70 non-neuroinvasive cases so the number of total cases in the state is likely much higher.

The DHHS West Nile Virus Surveillance Program works to identify and prevent West Nile virus in Nebraska by

Trapping and testing mosquitoes
Collect reports of dead birds
Investigating suspected human WNV cases.

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture investigates possible cases involving horses. For all suspected human cases, the DHHS and the local public health departments conduct investigations.

Mosquito-borne Disease Weekly Report

A weekly summary of Nebraska mosquito-borne disease surveillance.

2024 West Nile Virus Data

Humans

Category	Number	Maps
Clinical Positive Individuals	47	2024 Clinical Cases
Positive Blood Donors	12	2024 Blood Donors
Cumulative Number of Clinical Cases and Blood Donors	59

*Data suppressed due to low numbers (1-5 cases)

2024 Human Clinical Specifics

Age Range	Number
0-13	*
14-25	*
26-50	17
51-64	6
65+	20
Gender
Male	30
Female	17
Diagnosis
WNV Neuroinvasive	27
WNV Non-Neuroinvasive	20
Hospitalized	26
Deaths	0

*Data suppressed due to low numbers (1-5 cases)

Animals

Surveillance Type	Number Tested	Number Positives	Maps
Mosquito Pools Routine Surveillance (West Nile Virus, St. Louis Encephalitis Virus, Western Equine Encephalitis Virus)	1,137	84 (WNV)	2024 Mosquito Pools
Mosquito Pools Enhanced Surveillance 2024 (Jamestown Canyon Virus, Cache Valley Virus, LaCrosse Encephalitis Virus)	521	2 (JCV) 1 (CVV)	2024 Enhanced Surv. Pools
Equines	0	0	2024 Equine
Birds	0	0	2024 Birds

Total Human WNV Cases in Nebraska 2012-2022

West Nile Virus 10 Yr Average Annual Human Case Rate — West Nile Virus 10 Year Average Annual Human Case Rate

Mosquito Surveillance Data

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (NDHHS) in partnership with our local public health departments collects mosquitoes from across the state. These mosquitoes are then tested by the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) for the presence of arboviruses.

During the 2022 season, 992 mosquito pools* containing 14,381 Culex mosquitoes were tested. Of those pools tested, 88 positive WNV pools were detected. There was one positive St. Louis Encephalitis (SLE) virus mosquito pool detected from Dawson County.

In 2022, the first WNV positive pool was detected during trapping period 7 in Hall County. In 2021, the first WNV positive mosquito pool was identified during trapping period 5 in Scottsbluff County.

Starting in 2024, NDHHS began limited expanded surveillance and testing for additional pathogens found in mosquitoes. Pooled mosquito samples are tested by the Nebraska Public Health Lab for 3 additional viruses - Cache Valley virus (CVV), Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV), and LaCrosse Encephalitis virus (LACV).

*mosquitoes are tested in pools of up to 50 mosquitoes according to species, site location, and collection date