West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease presenting with acute flaccid paralysis and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss

West Nile virus (WNV), is an emerging virus. Most human infections are subclinical or manifest as a mild febrile illness, while fewer than 1% develop a neuroinvasive disease (WNND), including meningitis, encephalitis, and/or an acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) . We describe a case of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) secondary to WNV infection. A 55 year-old previously healthy and normoacousic man, was admitted (in September 2010) for bilateral hearing loss and leg weakness. This case suggests that hearing impairment can be an unusual clinical feature of WNV infection, and that WNV should be added to the list of viruses potentially responsible for SNHL.