TY - JOUR T1 - West Nile Epidemic in Louisiana in 2002 JF - Ochsner Journal JO - Ochsner J SP - 13 LP - 15 VL - 5 IS - 3 AU - Gary Balsamo AU - Sarah Michaels AU - Theresa Sokol AU - Karen Lees AU - Mona Mehta AU - Susanne Straif-Bourgeois AU - Stacy Hall AU - Nevin Krishna AU - Gita Talati AU - Raoult Ratard Y1 - 2003/06/20 UR - http://www.ochsnerjournal.org/content/5/3/13.abstract N2 - In 2002, 329 cases of West Nile illness were reported in Louisiana, including 204 cases of West Nile meningoencephalitis and 125 cases of West Nile fever. Clinical presentation of meningoencephalitis or of West Nile fever was confirmed serologically. There were 24 deaths. Age group distribution showed predominance among persons aged 45 years or older. The epidemic curve, based on date of diagnosis, showed numerous foci progressing in successive waves. The first cases occurred in mid-June. A peak was reached by the first week of August, after which the epidemic progressively subsided. ER -