West Nile virus is transmitted by mosquitoes in the US and Europe with no known vaccine, or very limited treatment options for humans. Climate change is also “baking-in” deadlier outbreaks of this deadly disease, and it has even landed the renowned Dr. Anthony Fauci in a hospital bed as well. Vulnerabilities also surfaced, showing unanswered questions and lack of progress on vaccine development and reinforcing the need for action.
The Invisible Menace
West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne pathogen, and it was first identified in Uganda in the 1930s. Over the past two decades, it has transformed into a worldwide menace and was first diagnosed in the United States in 1999.
The virus has since sickened more than 59,000 Americans and killed at least 2,900. What is even scarier, though, is that the real number of infections may be much higher — with many cases not reported.
The virus is primarily transmitted through mosquitoes that are infected by feeding on birds that carry the virus. When these infected mosquitoes bite humans and animals, they transmit the virus into their blood streams, resulting in a variety of symptoms ranging from mild fever to the life-threatening neurological complications.
The virus is largely asymptomatic but severe cases can cause long-term disabilities including brain disease and behavioural changes. Severe disease is more likely to develop in certain groups, such as the elderly and those with weakened immune systems, or people with other health conditions.
The Elusive Cure
Although West Nile virus has emerged as an increasingly important human pathogen ( 1 ), progress in the development of an effective vaccine has lagged.
There have been multiple attempts over the years to develop a vaccine, which had different pharmaceutical companies and research institutions working on different candidates. But not one of those trials has advanced past the Phase 3 clinical trial stage, a crucial last step before a vaccine is cleared for use.
Because West Nile outbreaks are so unpredictable and sporadic, this slow progress is due mostly to the lack of an impetus. For researchers to determine whether a vaccine works, the virus needs to be circulating in the community. However, some were initiated at points of low virus circulation and the requisite data could not be assembled.
The issue of profit is a potential second barrier: the public perception is that there’s no money to be made for drug companies by creating a West Nile vaccine. The unpredictable nature of the outbreaks means that the high costs associated with vaccine development seem difficult to justify, given that severe cases so far have required hospitalisation and cost in excess of $700,000 per patient.
But experts think there may be other ways to scale the hurdles. They have speculated, for instance, that government immunization campaigns might be worthwhile among high-risk populations such as the elderly or that huge international trials would have to be run in order to get a more reliable answer. And the key, they say is to be willing that we actually prioritize this orphan disease and invest resources.
Conclusion
An increasing threat is the West Nile virus, which has killed thousands and left many others with chronic neurological consequences. This failure to develop a vaccine and efficient treatment methods is alarming given the urgent requirement for one.
But, after it was announced that Dr. Anthony Fauci — a leading infectious disease expert and one-time White House COVID-19 advisor — had recently been hospitalized from severe side effects resulting from the virus, this overlooked viral scourge has gained renewed interest. Some experts are optimistic Wakefield’s patients may finally focus policy-makers and the scientific community on efforts to produce preventive and therapeutic approaches for West Nile virus. These funds, in conjunction with global collaboration and new approaches, will enable the fight back against this mosquito-borne scourge and are critical to safeguarding the health of people and populations.
