A review of West Nile Virus and its Potential Vector (Culex pipiens) in North Africa

West Nile Virus (WNV) can cause neurological disease and death in people. Culex pipiens is the suspected vector in the transmission of WNV. The objective of this study is to review the history of transmission foci in order to help the implementation of an effective and permanent human surveillance in North Africa. West Nile fever first appeared in Algeria in 1994 and was responsible for 20 cases, including 8 deaths. In 1997, a second epidemic was reported in Tunisia, with 173 cases, including 8 deaths. In Morocco, an epizootic was reported in 1996 with 42 equidae. North of Cairo was the first place where WNV was isolated in Egypt in 1950. The re-emergence of WNV cases in the following years confirms an enzootic circulation of the virus in North Africa. West Nile virus has and will remain a formidable clinical and public health problem hence the necessity of prevention against this disease.