Early outbreaks of West Nile virus revealed neurological complications, such as meningitis and encephalitis, challenging the perception of the virus as primarily asymptomatic. Experimental treatments in the 1950s raised ethical questions, especially after severe outcomes occurred. The resurgence of the virus in the 1990s marked a significant shift, with urban outbreaks leading to increased hospitalizations and neurological cases, highlighting the virus's evolving impact.
