The West Nile virus is a flavivirus commonly found in Africa, West Asia, and the Middle East. The virus can infect humans, birds, mosquitoes, horses, and some other mammals. Infected people typically develop symptoms between 3 and 14 days after they are bitten by an infected mosquito. About 4 out of 5 people who are infected with West Nile virus will not show any symptoms at all. Up to 20 percent of the people who become infected have flu-like symptoms (known as West Nile fever). There are no reliable statistics available on the number of West Nile virus cases that occur worldwide; however, in 2006, 4,261 human cases of West Nile virus were reported in the United States, including 174 deaths.

 

Welcome to the West Nile Virus Health Channel by eMedTV. We hope that you find this channel to be a valuable resource on West Nile virus. On this channel, you will find a wide variety of articles on topics such as West Nile causes, symptoms, statistics, and more. Whether you are curious about the possibility of a vaccine or want to know more about West Nile virus treatment, this channel has the information you need.

 

Many people begin their eMedTV West Nile virus experience by clicking on any of the featured West Nile virus links on this page. You can also start with the health topic section on the left side to find a particular topic of interest. If you do not find the specific West Nile information that you are looking for in these two locations, use the search box at the top of this page.