How does the west nile virus spread?

Answer 1

West Nile virus is primarily transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. However transmission has also been documented through blood transfusions and from mother to baby through transplacental transmission and through breast feeding.

Answer 2

The virus is transmitted through mosquito vectors, which bite and infect birds. The birds are amplifying hosts, developing sufficient viral levels to transmit the infection to other biting mosquitoes which go on to infect other birds (in the Western Hemisphere, the American robin and the American crow are the most common carriers) and also humans. The infected mosquito species vary according to geographical area; in the US, Culex pipiens (Eastern US), Culex tarsalis (Midwest and West), and Culex quinquefasciatus (Southeast) are the main sources.[13]

In mammals, the virus does not multiply as readily (i.e. does not develop high viremia during infection), and mosquitoes biting infected mammals are not believed to ingest sufficient virus to become infected,[14] making mammals so-called dead-end infections.

A 2004 paper in Science reported that Culex pipiens mosquitoes existed in two populations in Europe, one that bites birds and one that bites humans. In North America, 40% of C. pipiens mosquitos were found to be hybrids of the two types which bite both birds and humans, providing a vector for WNV. This is argued to provide an explanation of why the West Nile disease has spread more quickly in North America than Europe.[15] However, these conclusions have been disputed.[16] In 2010, the Greek Center for Disease Control and Prevention verified that C. pipiens was responsible for an outbreak of the virus in northern Greece
Mosquitos become infected by biting someone who is infected, and pass on the infection by biting someone else.
mosquitos get the virus from dead birds that they eat. So it starts in the birds and the infection will spread to other mamals like horses, dogs, cats

Answer 3

The main mode of WNV transmission is via various species of mosquitoes, which are the prime vector, with birds being the most commonly infected animal and serving as the prime reservoir host especially passerines.

Answer 4

It creates a skin rash, mild headaches, or a small fever

Answer 5

Via infected mosquito that bites an infected bird and then an uninfected human.

Answer 6

Via mosquito.