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Div. of Media Relations
1600 Clifton Road
MS D-14
Atlanta, GA 30333
(404) 639-3286
Fax (404) 639-7394 |
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September 1, 2002
Contact: CDC Media Relations
(404) 639-3286
Press Release
CDC Investigates Possible
West Nile Virus
Transmission Through Organ Transplant
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food
and Drug Administration, the Georgia State Department of Health, and the
Florida Department of Health are investigating illnesses among four
recipients of organ transplants from a single donor. One of these persons
died on August 29. Preliminary evidence suggests that these illnesses may
be due to West Nile virus infection.
All four persons received organs from a Georgia resident who died in early
August following a motor vehicle accident. Before death, this person had
received multiple blood transfusions. Two Georgia residents received
organs from this donor. Both became ill with fever and encephalitis. One
patient remains hospitalized but is improving. The other patient died;
examination of autopsy specimens at the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention were consistent with West Nile or related virus infection. Two
Florida residents received organs from this donor. One developed fevers
but is now recovering at home. Another developed a neurological illness
and remains hospitalized. Specimens from this patient at the Florida State
Department of Health tested positive for West Nile virus infection.
Concern about the possibility that blood transfusion or organ donation may
have transmitted West Nile infection to recipients of organs from a single
donor has prompted the ongoing investigation that is now underway. West
Nile virus is spread via the bite of an infected mosquito. Although
transmission of West Nile virus via blood transfusion or organ donation
has been a theoretical possibility, transmission via these routes have not
been previously observed.
Although the exact cause of these four organ recipients illnesses and
the means that they may have become infected still remains uncertain, as a
precautionary measure, remaining blood products from the blood donors of
the blood transfusions that were given to the organ transplant donor are
being recalled.
Most persons exposed to the West Nile virus do not develop symptoms.
Approximately one in five exposed persons will develop a mild flu-like
illness and less than one percent will develop severe neurological
disease. It is unknown if organ transplant patients are more likely to
develop severe disease following exposure to the West Nile virus. Persons
who do develop symptoms mostly will have symptom onsets 3 to 14 days after
exposure to the virus.
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CDC protects people's health and safety by preventing and
controlling diseases and injuries; enhances health decisions by providing
credible information on critical health issues; and promotes healthy
living through strong partnerships with local, national and international
organizations.
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