[alloysteel]

And people still cannot bring themselves to imagine that this West Nile virus could be bioterrorism. Question - in the hundreds of years that the West has been entering and leaving the area of Egypt and other parts of the Middle East where this disease is endemic, why has the disease never spread out of the area before? It has spread to the US because it was introduced as a conscious program with malevolent intent, by people who had the means, the motive, the opportunity.

[eno_]

Moreover, just because it was labeled "West Nile Virus" doesn't mean it is the same as any virus found in nature. It was named way before these symptoms emerged. There is no very strong reason to believe it was introduced accidentally, and, as you point out, the introduction and subsequent spread of tropical diseases into the U.S. is a rare event.

[blam]

I don't think this is getting the press it should. Most doctors do not even know about this paralysis angle. I sent a copy of this report (from The Boston Globe) to my local newspaper, Mobile Register. Not a peep!

[stndngathwrthistry]

And people still cannot bring themselves to imagine that this West Nile virus could be bioterrorism.

Actually, I think most people can imagine that it could be. They just aren't assuming, as you are, that it must be.

[blam]

"It has spread to the US because it was introduced as a conscious program with malevolent intent, by people who had the means, the motive, the opportunity."

Could/would they tell us that it was an attack even if they knew? Panic! You can't defend against panic.