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West Nile Virus—
Frequently Asked Questions
It is not known how long it has been in the U.S., but the Center for Disease Control scientists believe the virus has probably been in the eastern U.S. since the early summer of 1999, possibly longer.
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 the animal or human, where it may multiply, possibly causing illness.
No. Even in areas where mosquitoes do carry the virus, very few mosquitoes—usually less than 1%—are infected. If the mosquito is infected, less than 1% of people who get bitten and become infected will get severely ill. The chances you will become severely ill from any one mosquito bite are extremely small.
No. West Nile infection is NOT transmitted from person to person. For example, you cannot get West Nile Virus from touching or kissing a person who has the disease, or from a health care worker who has treated someone with the disease.
In 1999, 62 cases of severe disease, including 7 death, occurred in the New York area. In 2000, 21 cases were reported, including 2 deaths in the New York City area. In 2001, there were 66 human cases of severe disease and 9 deaths. To date, there have been 256 confirmed deaths in the U.S. attributed to the West Nile Virus. No reliable estimates are available for the number of cases that occur worldwide.
There is no evidence that a person can get the virus from handling live or dead infected birds. However, all dead animals, including birds, should be handled with care. Dead wild animals should not be handled without protective gloves. Any unexplained or sudden death of a crow or a raven should be treated with suspicion. If there are no signs that the bird died from trauma, please contact the Washington County Health Department at 503-846-8722, 503-846-4598 TTY.
The only means to determine that you are infected with the West Nile Virus is a specific blood test administered by a Physician. Mild symptoms of the infection may include fever, headache, body aches and occasionally, skin rashes on the trunk of the body and swollen lymph glands (mostly in the neck area).
Symptoms of West Nile Encephalitis include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness and paralysis.
If you have been bitten by a mosquito and develop any of the symptoms of West Nile Encephalitis, you must seek immediate medical attention. Symptoms of a mild West Nile infection probably won’t require medical attention and will generally last a few days.
The City of Beaverton is implementing a plan to respond to the potential risks posed by the West Nile Virus. The City’s plan reflects the successful experiences of Vector Control Districts across the U.S. In addition to an extensive public information effort, the City will engage in the active collection of mosquito larvae at selected sites throughout the city. When counts of mosquito larvae reach accepted response levels, the City is prepared to begin abatement actions that will help to prevent large numbers of adult mosquitoes.
Frequently Asked Questions
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