Kansas father Billy Howe has spent three weeks in intensive care after developing severe West Nile virus infection following a mosquito bite. He required ventilation twice and suffered swelling of the brain and spinal cord, leaving his heavily pregnant wife, Autumn, to care for their family while preparing for the birth of their fifth child.

Howe became disorientated within 24 hours of being bitten and was diagnosed after 12 days of investigation, with his liver-transplant history contributing to the decision to transfer him to a specialist hospital. He can now speak a few words at a time but remains dependent on help to eat and move, and is expected to enter rehabilitation for weeks or months; a fundraiser has raised over $5,000 towards a $12,000 target.