What is the basic transmission cycle?
A. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds, which may circulate the virus in their blood for a few days. After an incubation period of 10 days to 2 weeks, infected mosquitoes can then transmit West Nile virus to humans and animals while biting to take blood. The virus is located in the mosquito’s salivary glands. During blood feeding, the virus is then injected into the animal or human, where it then multiplies and may cause illness.
Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds, which may circulate the virus in their blood for a few days. Infected mosquitoes can then transmit West Nile virus to humans and animals while biting to take blood. The virus is located in the mosquito’s salivary glands. During blood feeding, the virus may be injected into an animal or a human, where it may multiply, and possibly cause illness.
Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds, which will have the virus in their blood. Infected mosquitoes can then transmit West Nile virus to humans and animals while biting to take blood. The virus is harbored in the mosquito’s salivary glands, and during blood feeding the virus may be injected into the animal or human along with mosquito saliva. The virus may then multiply, possibly causing illness.
