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 Mosquitoes become infected with West Nile Virus when they feed on infected birds. These infected mosquitoes then can transmit West Nile Virus to humans and to other birds and animals when a mosquito bite occurs.
People contract West Nile encephalitis from the bite of a mosquito that is infected with West Nile Virus. A mosquito becomes infected by biting a bird that carries the virus. West Nile Virus is not spread by person-to-person contact or directly from birds to people.
 Most people who are infected have no symptoms or may experience mild illness, such as a fever and headache, before fully recovering. In some individuals, particularly the elderly, West Nile Virus can cause serious disease that affects the brain and can prove fatal. Symptoms occur 3 to 15 days following the bite of an affected mosquito. Symptoms include fever, headache, swollen nodes and stiff neck. These symptoms then progress into severe headache, high fever, and in rare cases death. There is no specific therapy for West Nile Virus.
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IDPH Surveillance Maps by Year |
