New York State West Nile Virus Response Plan

Recommendations include the implementation of a surveillance program that includes the identification of mosquito breeding locations, a prevention program that includes the distribution of items such as insect repellant and larvicide briquettes and a response program to mitigate further spread of WNV.

In the fall of 1999 the mosquito-borne West Nile virus (WNV) killed 7 people in the NY City area and made dozens more very sick. It was initially misidentified as a different, related mosquito-borne virus often found in the U.S. The outbreak serves as a source of lessons about how public health (PH) officials can be better prepared in responding to potential crises involving uncertain causes, and how they can detect and respond to an act of biological terrorism. This report reviews the WNV outbreak and the response to it, focusing on establishing a chronological account of the events that occurred; and identifying lessons learned for PH and bioterrorism preparedness.