How Do You Get West Nile Virus

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How Do You Get West Nile Virus

West Nine virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne virus. Mosquitoes are the vectors of West Nile virus. When an infected female mosquito bites you, you get West Nile Virus. Now you may ask how mosquitoes get infected by the virus. Birds are the main animal reservoirs for West Nile virus. When a mosquito feed on the bird which carries the virus, they get the virus. The virus enters the mosquito's bloodstream and then moves into the salivary glands. When this infected mosquito bites a human or an animal, the virus is passed into the host's bloodstream and it causes illness. West Nile Virus (WNV) may cross the blood-brain barrier and leads to severe illness, called "neuroinvasive" disease. The infected birds may or may not become ill. Crows are extremely susceptible to west nile virus.

How Do You Get West Nile Virus

Transmission of West Nile Virus

During warm weather, most West Nile virus infections occur. As mosquitoes carry the highest amounts of virus in the early fall, the rate of the disease increases in late August to early September. In this time, if you spend time outdoors, you have a high chance of being bitten by an infected mosquito.

When the weather becomes colder and mosquitoes die off, the risk decreases. The incubation period of West Nile virus ranges from 3 to 14 days. It means you may develop symptoms of West Nile Virus within this period if you are bitten by an infected mosquito. But, most cases people may not have any symptom.

West Nile virus (WNV) cannot spread from infected birds or animals to people or from person to person contact such as touching or kissing.

There may be other causes of West Nile virus in humans. West Nile virus may also be spread through blood transfusions and organ transplants. Though it has not been confirmed yet, it is reported that virus may transmitted from infected mother to her child during pregnancy or breast-feeding.

Risk factors of serious West Nile virus(WNV) infection include-

• Older (over the age of 50) or very young age
• Having a weakened immune system due to medications, HIV, or cancer
• Pregnancy

(See also- West Nile Virus Diagnosis, Prognosis, Complications)