Emerging Threat: Active West Nile Virus Transmission in Brazil Reveals Critical Public Health Challenge

Highlight

• West Nile virus (WNV) circulation in Brazil identified with 110 cases reported from 13 states over a decade.
• Retrospective analysis in Ceará State revealed 12.1% of febrile and neuroinvasive illness cases were WNV-positive, peaking in 2023.
• WNV lineage 1a confirmed as causative strain, including fatal infections in horses and humans, with neurological complications in nearly 43% of cases.
• Ecological niche models pinpoint high-risk areas in Brazil’s Northeast, aiding targeted surveillance and control efforts.

Study Background