What is West Nile virus and how is it spread?
West Nile virus (WNV) is a virus found in birds and carried by mosquitoes. When an infected mosquito bites a bird, the bird can become infected and can pass the virus on to other mosquitoes. When an infected mosquito bites a human, the virus can cause mild symptoms to West Nile fever or encephalitis (swelling of the brain). In 2002, West Nile virus caused death and illnesses with lasting effects to some people in Ontario. West Nile virus is not spread by person-to-person contact such as touching, kissing, or caring for someone who is infected.
