The first case of West Nile Virus in Nebraska was reported in 2002.
In 2022, there were 64 clinical cases of West Nile Virus reported in Nebraska. 37 cases were neuroinvasive and 27 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.
2023 Data
Humans
Category
| Number | Maps |
Clinical Positive Individuals | 148
| 2023 Clinical
|
Positive Blood Donors | 42
| 2023 Blood Donor
|
Cumulative Number of Clinical Cases and Blood Donors | 190
|
|
2023 Human Clinical Specifics
Age Range |
Number |
0-13 | 2
|
14-25 | 7
|
26-50 | 36
|
51-64 | 45
|
65+ | 58
|
Gender |
|
Male | 92
|
Female | 56
|
Diagnosis |
|
WNV Neuroinvasive | 90
|
WN Non-Neuroinvasive | 58
|
Hospitalized | 76
|
Deaths | 9
|
Animals
Total Human WNV Cases in Nebraska 2012-2022
Human WNV Clinical Cases 2012-2022
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.
*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, 2022
West Nile Virus 10 Year Average Positive Pool Rate
West Nile Virus Historic Data
2021 Historic WNV Data
2020 Historic WNV Data
2019 Historic WNV Data
2018 Historic WNV Data