[West Nile arbovirus antibodies with hemagglutination inhibition (HI) in residents of Southeast Anatolia].

937 sera collected from different persons in Southeast Anatolia were studied for antibodies against West Nile - Virus by HI test. 763 out of 937 sera were from the research area, 42 from the neighboring districts and 21 from soldiers recently come to the research area, the features of the remaining 111 sera, except the ages of 4 could not be recorded. In the sera from the research area the West Nile antibodies were positive in 41.80%. The positive ratios were 40.49% in Diyarbakir, 47.83% in Mardin, 44.82% in Siirt, 38.09% in Urfa and 41.17% in Elâziğ. In 916 sera, the positive ratio was 40.06%. The ratio increased with the age, 5 out of 21 sera from soldiers were positive. It seems that in research area an active West Nile virus or a closely related one is found. We think that in neighboring areas some active foci of West Nile wirus are found.