How do mosquitoes get west nile virus

Although some infected birds, especially crows and jays, frequently die of infection, most birds survive. Since West Nile virus was discovered in the United States in , the virus has been detected in over species of dead birds. Top of Page. There is no evidence that a person can get infected from handling live or dead infected birds.

However, you should avoid bare-handed contact when handling any dead animal. If you must pick up a dead bird, use gloves or an inverted plastic bag to place the bird in a garbage bag. State and local agencies have different policies for collecting and testing birds, so check with your state health department or state wildlife agency for information about reporting dead birds in your area.

Wildlife agencies routinely investigate sick or dead bird events if large numbers are impacted. Cases of WNV occur during mosquito season, which starts in the summer and continues through fall. There are no vaccines to prevent or medications to treat WNV in people. Fortunately, most people infected with WNV do not feel sick. About 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms. About 1 out of infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness.

Mosquitoes pick up the virus when they feed on infected birds and these infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to humans and other animals. In a very small number of cases, WNV is caused by blood transfusions, organ transplants and from mother to baby during pregnancy, delivery or breastfeeding. Mosquitoes in the genus Culex transmit WNV.

This virus is not transmitted from person to person. Since dead birds may have died from the effects of WNV, wear protective gloves when handling dead birds or any other animal.

Culex quinquefasciatus in the southern states are the mosquitoes most often implicated in WNV transmission. Most mosquitoes do not test positive for disease-causing viruses, and a person's chances of getting sick are small, according to the county.

Those older than 50 are at the highest risk for serious illness. Symptoms of West Nile range from flu-like fever, aches and nausea; to skin rash and swollen lymph glands; to neurological diseases and possibly death. The health department suggested taking precautions against encouraging a mosquito population by eliminating standing water from property and covering containers in which water could form and supply a place for mosquitoes to lay eggs. It also suggests using insect spray and to cover up while outside when possible, especially when mosquitoes are most active.

Rockland has had three human cases in the last two decades and human cases have been found in Dutchess, Orange, Westchester and Ulster counties.

Westchester has recorded human cases of West Nile yearly in the past four years and recorded a fatality in a year-old Yonkers resident who was diagnosed with West Nile virus died on Aug. Dutchess has seen six cases of West Nile in the last 10 years, with its most recent being in According to the U.