What is WNV and where did it come from?
A. West Nile Virus (WNV) is a virus transmitted by mosquitoes that can cause flu-like symptoms, encephalitis, or death. WNV is commonly found in Africa, Eastern Europe, West Asia, and the Middle East, but until 1999 had not been documented in the U.S. and was found in Imperial County this summer. WNV viruses infect humans, birds, mosquitoes, horses and some other mammals.