Update on viral encephalitis

Over 100 viruses have been associated with acute central nervous system inf ections. The present review focuses on some of the most common agents of vi ral encephalitis, as well as important emerging viral encephalitides. In th is context, the initial detection of West Nile virus in the Western Hemisph ere during the 1999 New York City outbreak, the first description of Nipah virus in Malaysia, and the appearance in Asia of a new neurovirulent entero virus 71 strain that causes severe neurologic disease are highlighted. In a ddition, advances regarding diagnosis, neuroimaging and treatment of Japane se and herpes simplex encephalitis are presented. Curr Opin Neurol 14:369-3 74. (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.