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
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.
A weekly summary of Nebraska mosquito-borne disease surveillance.
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
2021 Historic WNV Data
2020 Historic WNV Data
2019 Historic WNV Data
2018 Historic WNV Data