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First found in a woman isolated with a viral syndrome in Omogo, Uganda in the West Nile district.
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Tested as a cancer treatment on 95 seriously ill cancer patients. Did not seem to treat the cancer.
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First time identified in birds in the Nile delta region.
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Recognized WNV as the cause of human meningoencephalitis in elderly in outbreak in Israel.
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Outbreak in Southern France. Government investigated, and sprayed with insecticides and temporarily controlled the outbreak.
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Virus found to have fatal effects on horses in Egypt and France.
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Outbreak in South Africa.
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Outbreak in Bucharest, Romania. More serious symptoms. Got help from France and the United States. Many hypotheses for reason of outbreak at Bucharest. Global warming? Environmental factors include poor plumbing, polluted water, low rainfall.
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Discovered that birds are pathogenic for West Nile virus.
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By the end of the year virus had spread to NJ, MD and CT.
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Virus imported to the United States (and North America) after circulating in Israel and Tunisia. First identified in New York. 17 cases confirmed, 7 human deaths and many bird deaths.
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Originally diagnosed as St. Louis encephalitis. On the 23rd, finally confirmed as West Nile virus with connection to dying birds. DNA analysis revealed NY virus origin was from Middle East.
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Virus reappeared in NYC. This time in Staten Island, not Queens. Marshes and breeding grounds in Staten Island.
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In 2002 there was 4,256 cases recorded and 284 deaths.
2001 was 66 cases and 9 deaths. -
By the end of 2003, spread to the West Coast and to 46 states. 9858 cases recorded.
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Massive outbreak in the United States in the Mississippi River basin. Worst year to date by number of human cases: 9000+
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One of the worst outbreaks in history. Number continually climb into the next year. In total, West Nile has caused over 30,000 human cases and hundreds of deaths.
