| Summary/Abstract |
The 1999 unprecedented emergence of West Nile virus in the western hemisphere represented a health security warning intelligence failure. This paper reviews the timeline of warning signal recognition and associated missed opportunities to bridge strategic and tactical assessments. The complexity of signal evolution involving multiple public and private institutions and professional disciplines, coupled to inherent biases and shortfalls in interpretation, resulted in significant delays in warning communication and lost opportunity for preparedness and emergency response.
|