Deborah Asnis

Deborah Susan Asnis (July 17, 1956 – September 12, 2015) was an American infectious disease specialist and H.I.V. clinical researcher, who is credited with reporting the first human cases of West Nile virus in the United States.[1][2]

In August 1999, Asnis, the chief of infectious diseases at Flushing Hospital Medical Center in Queens, New York, noticed two male patients with similar, mysterious symptoms. Their symptoms included loss of arm and leg control, high fevers, and disorientation. She reported her patients' unusual symptoms to health authorities, who pursued further testing and analysis of the illness.[1] Asnis' patients were diagnosed with West Nile virus in September 1999, the first known human cases of the disease in the United States.[1][2]

Asnis had been praised for reporting her patients' symptoms to authorities.[1] Not only did her actions lead to the discovery of the West Nile virus in the United States, but, by alerting authorities, Asnis likely prevented a more widespread initial outbreak of West Nile in the country.[1][2]

  1. ^ a b c d e Roberts, Sam (2015-09-15). "Dr. Deborah Asnis, Who Sounded Alert on West Nile Virus Outbreak, Dies at 59". The New York Times. Retrieved 2015-10-10.
  2. ^ a b c Colker, David (2015-09-21). "Deborah Asnis dies at 59; helped detect West Nile virus in U.S." Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2015-10-10.