Are infants and children at greater risk for severe West Nile virus disease?
No. Although it is possible for infants and children to develop severe disease like encephalitis, meningitis, or acute flaccid paralysis, current data indicate that persons over 50 years of age are at highest risk for severe disease. Reports of West Nile virus illness in children younger than one year of age are infrequent. From 1999 to 2001, no cases of West Nile virus infection in babies younger than one year of age were reported to the CDC. In 2002, of the approximately 4100 reported cases of West Nile virus infection in the United States, only six occurred in babies less than one year of age. In 2003, only 14 of the approximately 9858 cases of West Nile virus infection reported in the United States occurred in babies less than one year of age; two developed encephalitis, four developed meningitis, and eight developed West Nile fever. Children and infants, however, can develop serious disease from West Nile virus. In 2002 and 2003, more than 200 children under age 19 years in the US
