Scientists keep an eye out for new outbreaks of a rare mosquito-borne virus.
West Nile virus named after a region of Uganda where it was first identified in 1937 is most commonly seen in Africa, West Asia and the Middle East, though it has also made its way to Europe. It was never seen in the United States not until 1999, when it began to surface in the New York metropolitan area. By mid-July of 2000, the virus was back in the Big Apple again. At that time, it was detected in mosquitoes in Westchester and Suffolk counties, and in two birds in New York City. Later testing confirmed the diagnosis.