Emerg Infect DiseidEmerging Infectious Diseases1080-60401080-6059Centers for Disease Control115855262631741Research ArticleMosquito surveillance and polymerase chain reaction detection of West Nile virus, New York State.WhiteD. J.djw05@health.state.ny.usKramerL. D.BackensonP. B.LukacikG.JohnsonG.OliverJ. A.HowardJ. J.MeansR. G.EidsonM.GothamI.KulasekeraV.CampbellS.Arbovirus Research LaboratoryStatewide West Nile Virus Response TeamsArthropod-Borne Disease Program, New York State Department of Health, Rm. 621 ESP Corning Tower, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12237, USA.Jul-Aug200174643649

West Nile (WN) virus was detected in the metropolitan New York City (NYC) area during the summer and fall of 1999. Sixty-two human cases, 7 fatal, were documented. The New York State Department of Health initiated a departmental effort to implement a statewide mosquito and virus surveillance system. During the 2000 arbovirus surveillance season, we collected 317,676 mosquitoes, submitted 9,952 pools for virus testing, and detected 363 WN virus-positive pools by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Eight species of mosquitoes were found infected. Our mosquito surveillance system complemented other surveillance systems in the state to identify relative risk for human exposure to WN virus. PCR WN virus-positive mosquitoes were detected in NYC and six counties in the lower Hudson River Valley and metropolitan NYC area. Collective surveillance activities suggest that WN virus can disperse throughout the state and may impact local health jurisdictions in the state in future years.