West Nile virus infection in organ donor and transplant recipients--Georgia and Florida, 2002

On August 23, 2002, the Georgia Division of Public Health (GDPH) and CDC were notified of two cases of unexplained fever and encephalitis in recipients of organ transplants from a common donor. An investigation has identified illness in two other recipients from the same donor: one with encephalopathy and the other with febrile illness. CDC, the Food and Drug Administration, GDPH, and the Florida Department of Health are conducting the investigation. This duster could possibly represent the first recognized transmission of West Nile virus (WNV) by organ donation.