West Nile Virus Articles / General News Posted by Dr. Peay on Jul 18, 2002 - 09:54 AM West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne disease that can cause encephalitis, or a brain infection. Mosquitoes acquire the virus from birds and pass it on to other birds, animals and people. West Nile virus has killed 18 people along the East Coast since it was first detected in this country in New York in 1999. Last summer was the most severe so far, with 66 human infections and nine deaths reported. The first reported human cases of WNV this year in the U.S. occured recently in Louisiana. People can only become infected with West Nile virus after being bitten by an infected mosquito. There is no evidence that people can get West Nile virus from infected animals or people, or that people can transmit the West Nile virus to other animals, birds, or people. The CDC in Atlanta urges people to report dead birds to local health authorities and to protect themselves against mosquito bites by getting rid of standing water, where mosquitoes breed, and to wear insect repellent or long sleeves outdoors. For more information check out the following links. <em>CDC West Nile Virus Home Page</em> [1] <em>Mosquito Control Tips</em> [2] This article is from Peay Animal Hospital Inc.   http://www.drpeay.com/ The URL for this story is:   http://www.drpeay.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=6 Links in this article   [1] http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm   [2] http://www.oph.dhh.state.la.us/newsitem03a1.html?NID=186