West Nile Virus (WNV) is the leading cause of mosquito-borne vector diseases in the U.S., primarily transmitted by Culex mosquitoes and maintained in bird reservoirs. It often presents with central nervous system symptoms such as encephalitis, meningitis, seizures, and altered mental status, with no FDA-approved treatment beyond supportive care. This study examined the prevalence of neuroinvasive WNV (nWNV) in New York State from 1999 to 2023, analyzing its distribution across counties classified as Atlantic Ocean (AO)-bordered, Great Lakes (GL)-bordered, or landlocked (LL). Using a Generalized Linear Model (GLM) with a Poisson distribution, twelve counties, including Bronx, Nassau, and Queens, showed significant associations with nWNV cases (p < 0.01). AO counties had the highest susceptibility compared to GL (β = -2.74, p < 2×10⁻¹⁶) and LL counties (β = -4.11, p < 2×10⁻¹⁶). These findings emphasize the role of standing water in disease transmission and the need for increased public health awareness.
