Although the West Nile Virus is not a commonly known virus around the public, it still affects many people around the world. The virus can me spread several different ways, including infected Mosquitoes, transfusions and transplants. In the following, all topics from preventing infection to statistics on the effect of west Nile Virus on humans will be discussed. The West Nile virus is a potentially very serious illness. Experts believe the virus is established as a seasonal epidemic in North America that flares up in the summer and continues into the fall seasons. .
The West Nile virus was discovered in Africa over sixty years ago. Today, it is commonly found in Africa, West Asia and the Middle East. It was first found in the US in 1999 and has since spread rapidly to most of the country(Starr 751). Most often the virus infects birds and mosquitoes along with any other mammal, and mosquitoes are the ones usually infecting humans. Generally, the virus is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes are the West Nile Virus carriers that become infected when they feed on infected birds. Infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to humans and other animals when they bite them. Mosquito-borne diseases affect millions of people worldwide each year. In the United States, some species of mosquitoes can transmit diseases such as encephalitis, dengue fever, and malaria to humans, and a variety of diseases to wildlife and domestic animals(Rutheford 1). Larval Habitats of Mosquitoes are usually around areas such as woodland pools, fresh flood water, tidal flood water, freshwater swamps, acid water swamps, brackish water swamps, polluted water, and holes inside of trees. If you are one of the unlucky people that does indeed get bit by an infected mosquito, the symptoms might not tell you exactly what is wrong with you.
Most people who are infected with West Nile virus have no symptoms or experience only mild illness.