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Background
West Nile Virus (WNV) is a zoonotic flavivirus within the Japanese Encephalitis virus serocomplex, which circulates in a transmission cycle between birds and vector-competent mosquitoes. It can incidentally infect dead-end hosts such as humans, horses, and other mammals. First isolated in Uganda in 1937, WNV has become a significant One Health concern due to its global distribution, causing morbidity and mortality in both humans and animals.
While most WNV infections are asymptomatic, the virus can result in severe neuroinvasive disease in humans and animals, including encephalitis, meningitis, and poliomyelitis. Outbreaks have caused substantial public health and economic impacts globally, such as the 1974 epidemic in South Africa and the recurring outbreaks in Tunisia. In the Americas and Europe, WNV has emerged as a critical public health threat, with major outbreaks reported, including nearly 10,000 cases in the USA in 2003. Despite its global relevance, key gaps in the understanding of WNV transmission dynamics persist, particularly in Africa, where the virus is endemic but under-surveilled.
WNV's global spread is facilitated by long-distance bird migrations, emphasizing the interconnectedness of regions and the need for an international One Health surveillance network. Such a network could bridge gaps in understanding WNV transmission routes, foster early outbreak detection, and support targeted public health interventions. Through collaborative efforts and enhanced genomic surveillance, it is possible to address knowledge gaps and improve global preparedness against this zoonotic arbovirus.
WNV-GLUE was developed to address the gaps in genomic data and facilitate research on WNV transmission and evolution. By leveraging GLUE's capabilities, WNV-GLUE provides an open, standardized framework for managing genomic and epidemiological data, supporting phylogenomic analyses, and promoting collaborative research. This tool aims to provide researchers and public health professionals with open resources for exploring the spatiotemporal spread of WNV, identify regions requiring targeted surveillance, and contribute to a global understanding of this significant arbovirus.