Mosquitoes are everywhere!  Should I worry about getting West Nile Virus?
Where there are infected birds, there may be infected mosquitoes.  Where there are infected mosquitoes, there may be infected people and other animals.  Last year, over 4000 cases of human West Nile fever were reported in 44 states and the District of Columbia.  And there were a number of birds, animals, and humans that tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV) in North Carolina.  But even in areas where the virus is found in birds, very few mosquitoes are infected with the virus.  Even if bitten by an infected mosquito, less than 1% of infected people get severely ill. 

So what came first—the mosquito or the bird?
Actually, the virus came first.  The virus infected the bird.  The mosquito dined on the sick bird.  The mosquito now has the virus in its salivary glands and is looking for dinner.  It bites people and other animals in order to get blood and it injects the virus in the process. 

What are the symptoms?
Most humans and animals that are infected with West Nile virus will not have any symptoms.  About 20% of the people who have the virus will develop West Nile fever.  The symptoms for West Nile fever are also fairly mild.  These include fever, headache, body aches, and occasionally a skin rash on the trunk of the body and swollen glands.  These symptoms usually last only for a few days and do not have any long-term health effects.  West Nile encephalitis or meningitis ("encephalitis" and "meningitis" mean inflammation to different parts of the brain and spinal cord) is the most severe form of infection.  Those symptoms include severe headache, high fever, stiff neck, disorientation, convulsions, paralysis, and coma.

Who is most at risk for getting the worst kind, the West Nile encephalitis?
People over the age of 50 have the highest risk of severe disease.  But if the virus has been identified in an area, all residents of that area are at some risk. 

What other animals get infected with WNV?
Besides birds, the virus has been identified in horses, cats, bats, chipmunks, skunks, squirrels, and domestic rabbits.  Just recently it has been found in dogs. 

Oh, great!  So now I have to worry about getting WNV from my pets.
No you don't.  WNV is transmitted by infectious mosquitoes.  There is no documented evidence that the virus is transmitted from animal to person. 

What about handling dead birds?
We have no evidence that a person can get the virus from handling live or dead birds that are infected with WNV.  However, it is always a good idea to wear gloves when handling any dead animal. 

What about getting the virus from another person?
No.  Not possible.  The virus is not spread in the air or by touching or kissing a person who has the virus. 

How can I avoid getting infected with West Nile virus?
The only way to avoid getting the virus is to avoid getting bitten by an infected mosquito.  So you have to do things to protect yourself from mosquito bites.  The CDC has excellent information at their website  http://www.cdc.gov/ .  Look for prevention tips at the CDC's West Nile Virus prevention page.   Other information can be seen at the Health Department's Pest Managemnet Program.

What if I want to talk to a live person about West Nile virus?
You can call Communicable Disease Control at 704.336.5498 during regular business hours.