The West Nile Virus is an emerging threat in the United States, especially in the Northeast. It originated in Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East, infecting mosquitoes, birds, some mammals, and human beings. Prior to 1999, it had never been recorded in the Western Hemisphere, so this is an exotic disease that was transmitted overseas, probably from a source in the Middle East. Many people infected with the disease will show no adverse affects at all. In its mildest form, the West Nile Virus causes flu-like symptoms, including fever, headaches, body aches, and skin rashes. This level of infection will usually pass within a week. Still, severer strains of the virus -- called West Nile encephalitis or meningitis -- might lead to migraine headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis. It is estimated that 1 in 150 persons infected with the West Nile virus will develop a more severe form of disease. The principle route of human infection with West Nile virus is through the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds, which may circulate the virus in their blood for a few days. Thus, public health officials often monitor bird populations for signs of the virus's progress. While West Nile is a serious concern, its potential dangers must be kept in perspective. Even in areas where the virus is circulating, very few mosquitoes are infected with the virus. Even if the mosquito is infected, less than 1% of people who get bitten and become infected will get severely ill. It cannot be transmitted from person to person. The peak season for the virus corresponds with peak mosquito season -- mid-summer to fall. The following resources provide general information on the virus, as well as some information to specific to New York and the Northeast. Resources were compiled by Yu Hui Chen and Tracy Salvage, two of the Science Library's graduate assistants, in consultation with Gregg Sapp. (March 4, 2003)

Major Web Sites

CDC Media Relations - West Nile Virus Case Count (http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/surv&controlCaseCount03.htm) Infections and deaths reported by state. Also provides maps of the U.S. illustrating the count of infected humans, animals, and mosquitoes for 1999-2002.

CDC West Nile Virus Home Page (http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/) A comprehensive site featuring information on prevention, description of symptoms, questions and answers. Practical information includes how to report dead birds, and contacting state and local health agencies. Many useful links.

MEDLINEplus: West Nile Virus (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/westnilevirus.html") This National Institute of Health site provides the latest news on WNV, an overview of the disease, questions and answers, prevention and screening, blood and transplant safety, and special considerations for children, teens, and seniors.

New York State West Nile Virus Maps - 2003 (http://cindi.usgs.gov/hazard/event/west_nile/new_york/ny_vet_jan_17.html) The New York page offers up-to-date data for bird, human, mosquito, sentinel, and veterinary categories. Also, gives case count breakdown by county. Provides links to New York City Department of Public Health West Nile Page and New York State West Nile Virus Response Plan.

New York State West Nile Virus Response Plan (http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/westnile/final.htm) Site provides the New York State Department of Health's WNV Response Plan (May 2000). This is a comprehensive initiative for prevention, surveillance of WNV in humans, animals, and mosquitoes, along with health information and public communication. (Especially informative for researchers, students, and health professionals.)

NWHC: West Nile Virus Emerges in North America (http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/research/west_nile/west_nile.html) This U.S. Department of the Interior's National Wildlife Health Center site offers WNV maps, fact sheets, wildlife health alerts, and information on species affected by WNV. The focus is on the surveillance of birds and their importance in detecting areas of emerging infection.

Surveillance and Control of West Nile Virus (http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/surv&control.htm) Provides guidelines for public health professionals for the special surveillance and control program in 49 states, 5 cities, and the District of Columbia.

West Nile Virus (http://westnilevirus.nbii.gov/) National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) is a collaborative program to provide information on the nation's biological resources. It is suitable for use by the general public, educators, and scientists. The site contains information on the latest WNV news, human and animal health, mosquito control, state and regional information, and frequently asked questions.

West Nile Virus (WNV) (http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/wnv/wnv.html) The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (aphis) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture is responsible for protecting the health of U.S. livestock and poultry. This site links to information on the status of infection in horses, other livestock and poultry. Veterinary Services Emergency Program Staff can be contacted. Also provides links to U.S. government sites: CDC, National Wildlife Health Center, and state and local governments.

West Nile Virus Information (http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dshm/pesticid/wn.htm) New York State Department of Environmental Conservation provides answers to frequently asked questions about pesticides -- health effects, spraying, precautions, etc. -- and links to other related government sites.

West Nile Virus Maps - 2002 (http://cindi.usgs.gov/hazard/event/west_nile/west_nile.html) Provides a general overview of the WNV in large print format. Large, clearly drawn U.S. and state maps on WNV in bird, human, mosquito, sentinel (i.e., chicken) flock, and veterinary categories.

West Nile Virus Publications (http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/publications.htm) Listing of downloadable brochures for the general public, researchers, students, and health officials. Also provides a list of printable articles from the CDC's peer-reviewed periodical Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal, by date.

General Interest and Semi-Technical Articles

"CDC helps in battle against West Nile virus." (2002, Nov./Dec.). FDA Consumer, vol. 36, i. 6, p. 3, 2/5p. (ULIB Per HD 9000.9 U5 U52X; also electronic resource - Ebsco Host Academic Search Premier)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Epidemic/epizootic West Nile virus in the United States revised guidelines for surveillance, prevention, and control" -- U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. (http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/resources/wnv-guidelines-apr-2001.pdf)

Craven, Robert B. & Roehrig, John T. (2001, August 8). "West Nile virus." (Contemporary Updates), JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association, v. 286, no. 6, p. 651-3 (2913 words) (Science Per R15 A48; also, electronic resources - Health Reference Center, Expanded Academic ASAP, InfoTracOneFile)

Defrancesco, Laura. (2002, October). "U.S. in grip of West Nile virus," Nature Medicine, v. 8, no. 10, p. 1051. (Science Per RB 1 N38X)

Enserink, Martin. (2000, November 24). The enigma of West Nile, Science, v. 290, no. 5496, p. 1482-4. (Science Per Q1 S35; also, electronic resource - Ebsco Academic Search Premier)

Enserink, Martin. (2002, September 20). "West Nile's surprisingly swift continental sweep, Science, v. 297, no. 5589, p. 1988-9. (Science Per Q1 S35; also, electronic resource - Ebsco Academic Search Premier)

Glass, Jonathan D., Samuels, Owen & Rich, Mark M. (2002, October 17). Poliomyelitis due to West Nile Virus," The New England Journal of Medicine, v. 347, no.16, p. 1280-1. (Science Per R11 B7)

Gubler, Duane J. "Arboviral Encephalitides," in Encyclopedia of Public Health / Lester Breslow, ed., -- MacMillan, 2002. 67-68 (Science Ref RA423 E53 2002)

Leis, A. Arturo, Stokic, Dobrivoje & Polk, Jo Lynn. (2002, October 17). "A poliomyelitis-like syndrome from West Nile virus infection," The New England Journal of Medicine, v. 347, no. 16, p.1279-80. (Science Per R11 B7)

Petersen, Lyle R., Roehrig, John T. & Hughes, James M. (2002, October 17). "West Nile virus encephalitis," The New England Journal of Medicine, v. 347 , no.16, p.1225-6. (Science Per R11 B7)

Petersen, Lyle R., Roehrig, John T. (2001, July/August). West Nile virus: a reemerging global pathogen, Emerging Infectious Diseases, v. 7, no. 4, p. 611-14. (electronic resources - Health Reference Center, Expanded Academic ASAP)

Pickrell, J. & Raloff, J. (2002, September 28). Alarming West Nile fever risks emerge; Another polio?" Science News, v. 162, i. 13, p.197-8. (462 words) (Science Per Q1 S76; also, electronic resources - Expanded Academic ASAP, Ebsco Academic Search Premier)

Preboth, Monica. (2002, August 15). U.S. outbreak of West Nile virus infection, American Family Physician, v. 62, i. 4, p. 887. (199 words) (electronic resources - Lexis Nexis Academic, Health Reference Center)

Preston, Richard. (1999, October 18-15). "West Nile mystery," The New Yorker, v. 75, no. 31, p. 90. (ULIB Per AP2 N6763; also electronic resource - Lexis Nexis)

Tyler, Kenneth L. (2001, June 14). West Nile virus encephalitis in America, The New England Journal of Medicine, v. 344, no. 24, p. 1858-9. (Science Per R11 B7)

United States General Accounting Office, Health, Education, and Human Services Division. (2000). West Nile virus outbreak: lessons for public health preparedness: report to congressional requesters, The Office, Washington, D.C. (P.O. Box 37050, Washington, D.C. 20013). (electronic resource - Advance Web Catalog, subject search under "west nile fever-New York")

Weidensaul, Scott. When a deadly virus takes flight, literally. (1999, October 9). The New York Times (Late New York Edition), p. A17.

West Nile infection may be greater than previously thought. (2001, Sept./Oct.). FDA Consumer, v. 35, no.5, p. 8. (ULIB Per HD 9009.9 U5 U52X; also, electronic resource - Health Reference Center)

Williams, Ted. (2001, Sept./Oct.). Out of control, Audubon, v. 103, no.5, p. 38-47. (Science Per QL 671 A82; also, electronic resources - Expanded Academic ASAP, InfoTracOne File)

West Nile Virus in New York

Bernard, Kristen A, Maffei, Joseph G. & Jones, Susan A. (2001, July/August). "West Nile virus infection in birds and mosquitoes, New York State, 2000," Emerging Infectious Diseases, v. 7, no. 4, p. 679-85. (electronic resources - Health Reference Center, Expanded Academic ASAP)

Capppiello, Dina. "West Nile linked to death; first human in the Capital District to be infected; officials still investigating whether it was the virus that killed him." (2002, October 2). The Times Union (Albany, NY), Wednesday, Three Star Edition, p. A1. (Full text in Lexis-Nexis database)

Enserink, Martin. (2000, March 24). New York's deadly virus may stage a comeback, Science, v. 287, no. 5461, p 2129-30. (Science Per Q1 S35; also, electronic resource - Ebsco Academic Search Premier)

Enserink, Martin. (1999, November 19). New York's lethal virus came from Middle East, DNA suggests, Science, v. 286, no. 5444, p. 1450-1. (Science Per Q1 S35; also, electronic resource - Ebsco Academic Search Premier)

Gettleman, Jeffrey. "West Nile capital of the U.S. wonders why." (2002, September 23). The New York Times, p A1, A21. (Full text in Lexis-Nexis database)

Lipton, Eric. "Central Park shut to spray for virus." (2000, July 25). The New York Times (Late New York Edition), p. A1, B4. (Full text in Lexis-Nexis database)

Lopez, Wilfredo. (2002, August). "West Nile virus in New York City," American Journal of Public Health, v. 92, no. 8, p. 1218-21. (Science Per RA 421 A42X; also, electronic resources - ABI/INFORM, Ebsco Academic Search Premier)

Mostashari, Farzad, Bunning, Michael L. & Kitsutani, Paul T. (2001, July 28). Epidemic West Nile encephalitis, New York, 1999: results of a household-based seroepidemiological survey, The Lancet (North American Edition), v. 358, no. 9278, p. 261-4. (Science Per R 31 L29; also, electronic resources - Science Direct, Lexis Nexis, Ebsco Academic Search Premier, Health Reference Center)

Nash, Denis, Mostashari, Farzad & Fine, Annie. (2001, June 14). "The outbreak of West Nile virus infection in the New York City area in 1999," The New England Journal of Medicine, v. 344, no. 24, p. 1807-14. (Science Per R11 B7)

Steinhauer, Jennifer and Judith Miller. "In New York outbreak, glimpse of gaps in biological defenses." (1999, October 11). The New York Times. pA1 (Full text in Lexis-Nexis database)

Steinhauer, Jennifer. Outbreak of virus in New York much broader than suspected. (1999, September 28). The New York Times (Late New York Edition), p. A1. (Full text in Lexis-Nexis database)


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