What animal carries the virus?
BIRDS: THE PRIMARY RESERVOIR SPECIES FOR WEST NILE VIRUS. WNV infects and multiplies in birds, which then serves as the reservoir species for the virus. At least 76 types of birds are capable of carrying the virus, with American Crows frequently dying from the infection with mild or no indication of the disease. WNV is spread from bird to bird by mosquitoes, when they bite, or take a blood meal from birds that are infected with the virus. Mosquitoes are also capable of spreading the virus to horses, humans and other mammals. Migrating birds may have a significant impact on the spread of the virus across the United States. Birds that are infected with the WNV may show signs such as the inability to fly, incoordination, abdominal movements and death.
