The first case of West Nile Virus in Nebraska was reported in 2002.
In 2021, there were 107 clinical cases of West Nile Virus reported in Nebraska. 69 cases were neuroinvasive and 38 were 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.
2022 Data
Humans
2022 Human Clinical Specifics
|
Age Range |
Number |
| 0-13 | 0
|
| 14-25 | 2
|
| 26-50 | 16
|
| 51-64 | 15
|
| 65+ | 26
|
|
Gender | |
| Male | 39
|
| Female | 20
|
|
Diagnosis | |
| WNV Neuroinvasive | 33
|
| WN Non-Neuroinvasive | 26
|
|
Hospitalized | 31
|
|
Deaths | 4
|
Animals
Surveillance
Type |
Number
Reported |
Number
Tested |
Number
Positives |
Maps |
| Mosquito Pools | | 992
| - 88 positive WNV
- 1 positive SLE
|
Mosquito 2022
|
| Equines | NA | NA | 2
|
Equine 2022
|
Total Human WNV Cases in Nebraska 2012-2021
Human WNV Clinical Cases 2012-2021
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 2021 season, 1,390 mosquito pools* containing 17,520
Culex mosquitoes were tested. Of those pools tested, 38 positive WNV pools were detected. There was one positive St. Louis Encephalitis (SLE) virus mosquito pool detected from Scottsbluff County.
In 2021, the first WNV positive pool was detected during trapping period 5 in Scottsbluff County. In 2020, the first WNV positive mosquito pool was identified during trapping period 11 in Dodge County.
*mosquitoes are tested in pools of up to 50 mosquitoes according to species, site location, and collection date
West Nile Virus Positive Mosquito Pools Nebraska, 2021
West Nile Virus 10 Year Average Positive Pool Rate
Historical Data