Cases of West Nile virus contracted through blood transfusions called rare

Monday, Aug. 30, 2004 | 10:01 a.m.

A Phoenix man died after receiving a transfusion of blood tainted with the West Nile virus, but the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said such cases are rare.

A total of 79 blood donors who had no symptoms of West Nile Virus showed positive preliminary blood results for the disease so far this year, according to the CDC's surveillance program. Local and state health officials report such cases to the federal agency.

Anyone with a fever or headache, two of the symptoms of West Nile virus as well as other diseases, is forbidden from donating blood.

Anyone with an indication of West Nile virus after preliminary blood screening is contacted by the blood agency -- United Blood Services in the Las Vegas Valley -- to verify their infection with additional tests.

Some people do develop symptoms after donation and would be included in the count of human disease cases by their state.

As of Friday, Arizona reported 35 cases of West Nile virus from blood donors, California 16, Colorado two and New Mexico eight.

Nevada has not reported a case of West Nile virus from a blood donation agency.

There have been 18 confirmed cases of West Nile virus in Nevada and five confirmed, with nine probable cases in Clark County. Nationwide there have been 20 deaths this year, none in Nevada.