ATLANTA, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Sunday it is investigating illnesses among four recipients of organ transplants that seem to have been caused by West Nile virus infections.
The Food and Drug Administration, Georgia State Department of Health and Florida Department of Health also are investigating, CDC officials said.
All four transplanted organs were from a single donor: a Georgia resident who died in early August following a motor vehicle accident. Before death, the victim had received multiple blood transfusions, officials said.
Two Georgia residents received organs from the donor. Both became ill with fever and encephalitis. One patient remains hospitalized but is improving. The other patient died Aug. 29. Results of an autopsy performed by CDC were consistent with West Nile or a related viral infection, officials said.
The other two organ recipients, both Florida residents, also became ill. One developed fever but now is recovering at home. The second developed a neurological illness and remains hospitalized. The patient has tested positive for the West Nile virus, officials said.
The reports raise concern about the possibility of West Nile infections being transmitted via blood transfusions or organ donations. Although such transmission has been a theoretical possibility, officials said, this is first time infections by the virus have been observed from these routes.
Although the exact causes of the four organ recipients' illnesses, and the means by which they became infected, are uncertain, officials said the remaining blood products given to the organ transplant donor are being recalled as a precautionary measure.
West Nile virus is spread via the bite of an infected mosquito. Most persons exposed to the virus do not develop symptoms. Approximately 1-in-5 exposed persons will develop a mild, flu-like illness and less than 1 percent will develop more severe diseases. People usually develop symptoms mostly 3-to-14 days after exposure to the virus.
At present, it is unknown if organ transplant patients are more likely to develop severe disease following exposure to the virus, officials said.
