The West Nile virus epidemic in Arkansas, 2002: the Arkansas Department of Health response.

In June 2002, the Arkansas Department of Health anticipated a West Nile virus epidemic based on diagnoses in birds and increasing reports of human disease cases in neighboring states. Department officials activated an emergency operations center (EOC) dedicated to human West Nile virus surveillance. As a result, 43 cases (33 West Nile meningoencephalitis and 10 West Nile fever) and five (12%) deaths were confirmed from 16 counties.