West Nile Virus

Highlighted Facts:

• Surveillance for WNV was initiated in Louisiana in the Spring 2000 and currently involves the testing of dead birds, live birds, sick horses, mosquito pools and sentinel chicken flocks.  With the exception of horse testing, WNV testing is performed at the request of individual mosquito abatement districts throughout the state. WNV is considered endemic or native to all parts of Louisiana, thus statewide dead bird reporting has been suspended. Dead bird testing is now understood to be a poor predictor of human cases and its value is limited unless part of a more comprehensive mosquito surveillance program, as is conducted by local or parish mosquito abatement districts.          
• Louisiana has four kinds of Encephalitis: West Nile Fever, Saint Louis, Eastern Equine and California Encephalitis.
• Click here for West Nile Virus FAQs

Program Reports: 

Archive of Previous Years WNV Surveillance Reports: 2021  2020  2019  2018  2017  2016  2013  2012  2011  2010  2009  2008  2007      2006  2005 2004 2003 2002

Dead Bird Reporting

     Safe Handling Guidelines for Dead Birds

Arthropod-Borne Encephalitis in Louisiana - Annual Report

     WNV Annual Report - Louisiana

     West Nile Story 

    Repellent and Pesticides
          How Do I Choose a Repellant - Poster - CDC 

Health Education Materials: 
The Infectious Disease Section offers limited quantities of  free West Nile virus and other mosquito borne disease educational materials. Contact the arbovirus coordinator for details.

• Additional materials may be found at the CDC website
  http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/education.htm
• Protecting Outdoor Workers from WNV http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2005-155/
• West Nile Virus and Pregnancy/Brestfeeding (CDC) Website
• West Nile Virus and Blood Donations/Transplant Recipients. (CDC) Website
                                                                      Public Information Download
• West Nile virus is a risk you can do something about. (CDC)  Download
• Spanish version Virus del Nilo Occidental. Protejase contra las picaduras! (CDC) Download  

Partners:

• American Mosquito Control Association  http://www.mosquito.org/
• CDC Main Page for West Nile Virus http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm
• Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry http://www.ldaf.state.la.us/animal-health/veterinary-health-division/diseases/  
• Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries   http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/
• Louisiana Mosquito Control Association  http://www.lmca.us/
• LSU Louisiana State Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory http://www.lsu.edu/vetmed/laddl/index.php  
• Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine http://www.sph.tulane.edu/
• USGS Arbovirus Disease Maps by State  http://diseasemaps.usgs.gov/index.html  
• Local Mosquito Control Programs
• Office of Public Health Laboratory
• Office of Public Health Sanitarians

Primary Contact Information