West Nile virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States, and neuroinvasive West Nile disease can cause brain inflammation.

the verdict

INSUFFICIENT LEANING

Recorded sources

7 sources for · 0 against

Counts group repeated records of the same source within each side. They do not measure evidence strength or source independence.

Is it true that West Nile virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States, and neuroinvasive West Nile disease can cause brain inflammation?

Unclear. Multiple sources, including CDC and peer-reviewed papers, state that West Nile virus is the leading mosquito-borne infection in the United States, and other sources confirm that neuroinvasive West Nile disease can cause brain inflammation such as encephalitis. No single retrieved item states both halves of the claim together, so the evidence covers the claim only in parts.

Verdict: PARTIAL LEAN · 7 sources for, 0 against · Last checked 2 Oct 2026

The private library was unavailable for some searches in this check. Missing library results are not evidence against the claim.

Evidence for · 7

West Nile fever

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West Nile fever. (n.d.). en.wikipedia.org. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Nile_fever

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More for · 6

West Nile Virus | CDC

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West Nile Virus | CDC. (n.d.). cdc.gov. https://www.cdc.gov/west-nile-virus/index.html

Risk factors for West Nile neuroinvasive disease and mortality in the United States, 2013-2024

2025

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Judson, S. D. & Dowdy, D. (2025). Risk factors for West Nile neuroinvasive disease and mortality in the United States, 2013-2024. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.07.21.25331933

Long-term, West Nile virus-induced neurological changes: A comparison of patients and rodent models -

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Long-term, West Nile virus-induced neurological changes: A comparison of patients and rodent models - PMC Lock. (n.d.). pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbih.2020.100105

Case Reports of Neuroinvasive Manifestation of Viral Encephalitis

2015

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Case Reports of Neuroinvasive Manifestation of Viral Encephalitis. (2015). hal.science. https://hal.science/hal-05500591v1

Twenty years of West Nile virus spread and evolution in the Americas visualized by Nextstrain

2019

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Hadfield, J., Brito, A. F., Swetnam, D. M., Vogels, C. B. F., Tokarz, R. E., & Andersen, K. G. (2019). Twenty years of West Nile virus spread and evolution in the Americas visualized by Nextstrain. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1008042

Risk Factors for West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease and Mortality in the US, 2013-2024.

2025

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SD, J. & D, D. (2025). Risk Factors for West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease and Mortality in the US, 2013-2024.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.48229

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