The virus is transmitted through mosquitoes and contact with the blood of infected animals.
Commonly found in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America and West Asia.
The first recorded epidemics happened in the 1950's in Israel and in Europe in 1962. Another outbreak had occurred in New York in 1999.
Scientists believe that the most likely cause of the West Nile outbreak of 1999 in New York happened when an infected traveler came from Israel to New York.
The West Nile Virus is in the Genus Flavivirus which also consists of Yellow fever virus and the Zica Virus.