West Nile virus (WNV)
West Nile virus (WNV) is an
infectious disease that first appeared in the United States in 1999. Infected
mosquitoes spread the virus that causes it. People who get WNV usually have no
symptoms or mild symptoms. The symptoms include a fever, headache, body aches,
skin rash, and swollen lymph glands. They can last a few days to several weeks,
and usually go away on their own.
If West Nile virus enters the brain,
however, it can be life-threatening. It may cause inflammation of the brain,
called encephalitis, or inflammation of the tissue that surrounds the brain and
spinal cord, called meningitis.
West
Nile virus (WNV) is transmitted through female mosquitoes, which are the prime vectors
of the virus. The mosquito species that are
most frequently infected with WNV feed primarily on birds.
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