Case reports of viral meningitis/encephalitis.

The purpose of this paper is to present three case reports of patients who presented to a local hospital in Northern Louisiana with symptoms of viral meningitis and encephalitis. It also updates physicians on the signs and symptoms of persons infected with West Nile virus (WNV), a new and emerging infection in the Western Hemisphere. Beginning in June 2002, persons in Louisiana, particularly the southern part of the state, started presenting to health facilities with symptoms of infection with the WNV.