West Nile virus confirmed in death of Atlanta organ recipient

ATLANTA -- Government health officials confirmed Tuesday that the recipient of a donated organ died of the West Nile virus, raising concern it can spread through blood transfusions and other medical procedures. Federal officials said they were speeding development of a West Nile blood test.

The virus was thought to be transmitted only through the bite of an infected mosquito.

Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the victim died after receiving an organ from a Georgia woman who died last month.

in a car accident.

Three other people also received organs from the woman. The CDC said two of them have the virus and have developed encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain. West Nile has not been confirmed in the third person, who is recovering from a milder infection.