Can people get WNV from birds?
There is no documented evidence that people can get WNV from handling live or dead infected birds. VVNV is transmitted by infected mosquitoes. The Disease: WNV in People Most people infected with WNV will not become ill or severely ill. Less than 10% of the people who are infected will develop serious illness. Healthy children and young adults are in the low-risk category, but people older than 50 are considered to be at a higher risk to develop a serious illness. Symptoms occur three to 15 days after the initial infection. Mild cases usually result in slight fever and headaches. More severe cases result in high fever, head and body aches, disorientation, tremors and possibly convulsions. Extreme cases can result in paralysis or death. Of those people who develop a serious illness, the mortality rate ranges from 3% to 15%.
