Running head: WEST NILE VIRUS IN CALIFORNIA 1

West Nile Virus Cases in California Data Analysis

Christopher Manaois

University of San Diego

Healthcare Informatics
 WEST NILE VIRUS IN CALIFORNIA 2

Abstract

West Nile virus (WNV) is carried by mosquitoes and contracted by humans through mosquito

bites. Most infections have no symptoms, but some cases develop a sudden onset of fever,

headache, fatigue, malaise, muscle pain, and weakness. Some individuals also develop West Nile

encephalitis, meningitis, or poliomyelitis. In the United States, WNV is the most common

mosquito-borne illness. Though a WNV infection is costly for individuals in the community,

preventative measures are relatively simple. These control measures can be carried out through

individual and community efforts. The prevalence of WNV infections in California counties

were examined by the researcher and charted in counties with greater than four cases

(Healthdata.gov, 2019). From 2016 to 2017, there was an overall improved prevalence; however,

confirmed cases emerged in counties east of Los Angeles (Healthdata.gov, 2019).

 WEST NILE VIRUS IN CALIFORNIA 3

Introduction

West Nile virus (WNV) is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the United

States (Lindsey, Lehman, Staples, & Fisher, 2014). The Centers orf Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC, 2019b) stated that WNV is mostly transmitted through the bite of an infected

mosquito. Most cases emerge between the summer and fall seasons. Roehrig et al. (2003)

mentioned that WNV was first recognized in the western hemisphere by the New York City

Health Department in 1999. Roehrig et al. (2003) also added that since it was first brought into

New York City, WNV has caused diseases in humans, animals, and various vertebrates. From

1999 to 2002, there were 142 cases of neuroinvasive WNV disease, with 18 fatalities

documented. Most of WNV infections are not reported to clinics, but clinically reported infection

symptoms may vary. The patient’s symptoms may be presented from uncomplicated to severe,

even death in ext (Cambell, Marfin, Lanciotti & Gubler, 2002). Eighty percent of human

infections are asymptomatic but can present with West Nile fever consisting of acute onset of

fever, headache, fatigue, malaise, muscle pain, and weakness (Hayes et al., 2005). The first

detection of WNV in California was in 2003, near El Centro, Imperial County (Reisen et al.,

2004). Although WNV is relatively new to the United States and may not pose a great threat,

awareness is important.

Method

I have gathered information using a government website that displayed the positive cases

of WNV infections in California. I have filtered the information displayed into the years 2017

and 2017 with counties with more than 4 positive cases.

Data Source and Measurement Period

 WEST NILE VIRUS IN CALIFORNIA 4

The WNV cases discussed were obtained from HealthData.gov (Healthdata.gov, 2019), a

website aimed to make important health data accessible to the public for increased awareness.

The website is managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The data

collected depicts the positive human cases in California from January 1, 2006, to the present. 

Sample Population and Data Collection

The information the researcher extracted for this paper is information that displays the

California counties with greater than four positive cases of WNV during the years 2016 and

2017. It is found that in California, the WNV is contracted in humans by infected Culex species

of mosquitoes (Kilpatrick, Kramer, Jones, Marra, & Daszak, 2006). The positive cases were

documented and reported to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 

Results

Based on the data gathered, it showed that the California counties that had greater than

four cases of WNV in California were around Butte and Sacramento counties in the North, and

around Los Angeles county in the South during 2016. Figure 1 displays the number of cases by

county in 2016, and Figure 2 shows the map of these affected areas in 2016. 
 WEST NILE VIRUS IN CALIFORNIA 5

Figure 1. Confirmed cases of West Nile virus by county in California during 2016. Image of the

data displaying confirmed cases of WNV in California during 2016 

 WEST NILE VIRUS IN CALIFORNIA 6

Figure 2. Map of California displaying the counties affected by greater than four cases of WNV
in 2016.

A year later, after interventions, the northern counties decreased the prevalence of WNV

infections (Cite). The number of overall cases around the Los Angeles county areas also

decreased, but there was also an eastward shift of occurrences toward San Bernardino county.

Figure 3 shows the number of cases by county in 2017, and Figure 4 displays the map

highlighting the affected areas. 

 WEST NILE VIRUS IN CALIFORNIA 7

Figure 3. Confirmed cases of West Nile virus by county in California during 2017. Image of the
data displaying confirmed cases of WNV in California during 2017.
 WEST NILE VIRUS IN CALIFORNIA 8

Figure 4. Map of California displaying the counties affected by greater than four cases of WNV
in 2017.

Conclusion

West Nile virus infections in humans occurs when bitten by an infected mosquito. As

mentioned earlier, WNV is the leading mosquito-borne disease in the United States. Most cases,

the infection is asymptomatic. However, there is a small percentage where the infection can

cause severe to deadly conditions for a patient. 

 WEST NILE VIRUS IN CALIFORNIA 9

Based on the data, there were counties in both Northern and Southern California with

more than four cases in 2016. The researcher found that these cases affected counties that were

proximal to each other. The areas with greater than 4 cases of WNV infections in the northern

counties were around the Butte and Sacramento, while in the South was mostly around the Los

Angeles area. In 2017, data showed that the Northern California counties had decreased the

WNV prevalence. The southern counties had improved by the decrease in numbers of WNV

infection cases, but the prevalence had moved eastward toward San Bernardino county. The

counties had later decreased the number of cases.

The CDC (2019) suggested that vector control can be a very effective measure to prevent

the spread of mosquitoes thus limiting the prevalence of WNV infections (Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention, 2019). The CDC also added methods of preventing mosquitoes with

efforts of individuals and communities. Examples of control measures included getting rid of and

avoiding stagnant water sources (e.g., tires, pots, and other containers), wearing protective

around mosquitoes, and utilizing bug protection spray to wield off mosquitoes. A study in 2014

showed an estimated economic burden for WNV syndromes of 80 patients to be from about

$4,000 to $300,000 for initial costs, and up to $400,000 for long term care (Staples, Shankar,

Sejvar, Meltzer, & Fischer, 2014). Simple measures such as preventing the multiplication of

mosquitoes, can consequently limit the spread of mosquito-borne diseases, such as WNV

infections.
 WEST NILE VIRUS IN CALIFORNIA 10

References

Campbell, D. G. L., Marfin, A. A., Lanciotti, R. S., & Gubler, D. J. (2002). West Nile virus. The

Lancet: Infectious Diseases, 2(9), 519–529. Retrieved from

http://sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1473309902003687

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019a). Mosquito Control. Retrieved from

https://www.cdc.gov/westnile/vectorcontrol/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019b). West Nile virus. Retrieved from

https://www.cdc.gov/westnile/index.html.

Hayes, E. B., Sejvar, J. J., Zaki, S. R., Lanciotti, R. S., Bode, A. V., & Campbell, G. L. (2005).

Virology, pathology, and clinical manifestations of West Nile virus disease. Emerging

Infectious Diseases, 11(8), 1174-1179. doi: 10.3201/eid1108.050289b

Kilpatrick, A. M., Kramer, L. D., Jones, M. J., Marra, P. P., & Daszak, P. (2006). West Nile

virus epidemics in North America are driven by shifts in mosquito feeding

behavior. PLoS Biology, 4(4), e82. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.0040082

Lindsey, N. P., Lehman, J. A., Staples, J. E., & Fischer, M. (2015). West Nile virus and other

nationally notifiable arboviral diseases—United States, 2014. Morbidity and Mortality

Weekly Report, 64(34), 929-934.

Reisen, W., Lothorp, H., Madon, M., Cossen, C., Woods, L., Husted, S., . . . Edman, J. (2004).

West Nile virus in California. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 10, 1369–1378.

doi:10.3201/ed1008.040077

Roehrig, J. T., Nash, D., Maldin, B., Labowitz, A., Martin, D. A., Lanciotti, R. S., & Campbell,

G. L. (2003). Persistence of virus-reactive serum immunoglobulin M antibody in

 WEST NILE VIRUS IN CALIFORNIA 11

confirmed West Nile virus encephalitis cases. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 9(3), 376–

379. doi:10.3201/eid0903.020531

Staples, J. E., Shankar, M. B., Sejvar, J. J., Meltzer, M. I., & Fischer, M. (2014). Initial and long-

term costs of patients hospitalized with West Nile virus disease. The American Journal of

Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 90(3), 402-409. doi: https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.13-

0206

Healthdata.gov. (2019). West Nile virus cases, 2006-present. Retrieved from

https://healthdata.gov/dataset/west-nile-virus-cases-2006-present
WEST NILE VIRUS IN CALIFORNIA 12

Appendix A

Confirmed cases of West Nile virus by county in California during 2016

 WEST NILE VIRUS IN CALIFORNIA 13

Figure 1. Image of the data displaying confirmed cases of WNV in California during 2016 

Figure 2. Map of California displaying the counties affected by greater than four cases of WNV
in 2016.
WEST NILE VIRUS IN CALIFORNIA 14

Appendix B

Confirmed cases of West Nile virus by county in California during 2017

 WEST NILE VIRUS IN CALIFORNIA 15

Figure 3.. Image of the data displaying confirmed cases of WNV in California during 2017.

Figure 4. Map of California displaying the counties affected by greater than four cases of WNV
in 2017.