About West Nile
Virus
Transmission of West Nile Virus
Symptoms of West Nile Virus
Prevention of West Nile Virus
Testing and Treating West Nile Virus
in Humans
West
Nile Virus and Birds
West Nile Virus and Dogs and Cats
West Nile Virus and Horses
Map of Progression of West Nile Virus Across
the United States
What You Can do to Eliminate Mosquitoes
About West Nile
Virus
Q. How do people get infected
with West Nile
Virus (WNV)?
A. The principal route of human
infection with
West Nile Virus is through the bite of an
infected
mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when
they
feed on infected birds, which may
circulate the
virus in their blood for a few days. The
virus
eventually finds its way into the
mosquito's
salivary glands. During subsequent blood
meals,
the virus may be injected into humans and
animals, where it can multiply and
possibly
cause illness.
Additional routes of infection have
become apparent during the 2002 West Nile
epidemic. It is important to note that
these other methods of transmission
represent a very small proportion of
cases. A recent investigation has
confirmed WNV transmission through
transplanted organs. Investigations of
other patients who developed WNV infection
within several weeks of receiving blood
products or organs are ongoing to
determine whether WNV was transmitted by
transfusion or transplantation in any of
these cases.
These is one reported case of
trans-placental (mother-to-child) WNV
transmission. although transmission of WNV
and similar viruses to laboratory workers
is not a new phenomenon, two recent cases
of WNV infection of laboratory workers
have been reported.
Q. What are West Nile Virus,
West Nile Fever, and West Nile
Encephalitis?
A. West Nile Virus is a
flavivirus commonly found in Africa, West
Asia, and the middle East. It is closely
related to St. Louis Encephalitis virus
found in the United States. The virus can
infect humans, birds, mosquitoes, horses,
and some other mammals.
West Nile Fever is a case of mild
disease in people, characterized by
flu-like symptoms. West Nile Fever
typically lasts only a few days and does
not appear to cause any long-term health
effects.
More severe disease due to a person
being infected with this virus can be West
Nile Encephalitis, West Nile Meningitis,
or West Nile Meningoencephalitis.
Encephalitis refers to an inflammations of
the brain, Meningitis is an inflammation
of the membrane around the brain and the
spinal cord, and Meningoencephalitis
refers to inflammation of the brain and
the membrane surrounding it.
Q. Where did West Nile Virus
come from?
A. West Nile Virus has been
commonly found in humans and birds and
other vertebrates in Africa, Eastern
Europe, West Asia, and the Middle East,
but until 1999 ha not previously been
documented in the Western Hemisphere. It
is not known from where the U.S. virus
originated, but it is most closely related
genetically to strains found in the Middle
East.
Q. How long has West Nile Virus
been in the U.S.?
A. It is not known how long it
has been in the U.S., but CDC scientists
believe the virus has probably been in the
eastern U.S. since the early summer of
1999, possibly longer.
Q. What is the County Vector
Control Program doing to address the
problem of West Nile Virus?
A. The San Bernardino County
Vector Control Program, along with the
California Department of Health Services
and the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, has developed a comprehensive
monitoring and surveillance plan to detect
West Nile Virus in the county and limit
the residents' risk of exposure to the
infection. Vector Control Program
routinely tests for West Nile Virus in
sentinel chicken flocks maintained at
various sites in the county and mosquito
populations collected throughout the
county. Sick, dying or dead birds that
meet certain collection guidelines are
also tested for West Nile Virus.
(Information on this
page obtained from the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention)
For West Nile Virus
information updates call toll free:
877-WNV-BIRD (877-968-273)
WestNile.ca.gov
Centers for Disease Control information on
West Nile Virus
West Nile Virus Information
Help Protect Yourself and The Community Against West Nile Virus
West Nile Virus PowerPoint presentation.ppt
West Nile Virus.pdf
Dead Bird Reporting
Department of Health Services West Nile Virus information
Centers for Disease Control West Nile Virus
Daily Update Information
Centers for Disease Control Protecting
Yourself and Your Community
from West Nile Virus. View a video
about protection against WNV infection.
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