West Nile Virus: MedlinePlus

West Nile Virus: MedlinePlus



A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
National Institutes of Health

West Nile Virus

Also called: WNV 

West Nile virus (WNV) is an infectious disease that first appeared in the United States in 1999. Infected mosquitoes spread the virus that causes it. People who get WNV usually have no symptoms or mild symptoms. The symptoms include a fever, headache, body aches, skin rash, and swollen lymph glands. They can last a few days to several weeks, and usually go away on their own.

If West Nile virus enters the brain, however, it can be life-threatening. It may cause inflammation of the brain, called encephalitis, or inflammation of the tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, called meningitis. A physical exam, health history and laboratory tests can diagnose it.

Older people and those with weakened immune systems are most at risk. There are no specific vaccines or treatments for human WNV disease. The best way to avoid WNV is to prevent mosquito bites:

• Use insect repellent
• Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by emptying standing water from flower pots, buckets or barrels
• Stay indoors between dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active
• Use screens on windows to keep mosquitoes out

NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA  

• West Nile virus

Related Topics

• Encephalitis
• Insect Bites and Stings
• Brain and Nerves
• Infections

National Institutes of Health

• The primary NIH organization for research on West Nile Virus is theNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Languages

• Hmong (Hmoob)
• Russian (Русский)
• Spanish (español)

• Start Here

  • FAQ: General Questions about West Nile Virus(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • Understanding West Nile Virus(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)

• Overviews

  • West Nile Virus(American Academy of Family Physicians)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • West Nile Virus(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

• Diagnosis/Symptoms

  • West Nile Virus Symptoms(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)
  • West Nile Virus: Symptoms and Treatment(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

• Prevention/Screening

  • FAQ: Insect Repellent Use and Safety(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • Insect Repellents: Use and Effectiveness(Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs)
  • Prevent Your Exposure to Mosquitoes(Environmental Protection Agency)
  • Remove Mosquito Habitats(Environmental Protection Agency)
  • West Nile Virus: Prevention and Control(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • West Nile: Virus Transmission(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

• Related Issues

  • FAQ: Blood Donation and Organ Transplant(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • FAQ: West Nile Virus and Dead Birds(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • West Nile Virus in the Workplace(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)
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• Research

  • NIAID's Role in Addressing West Nile Virus(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)
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• Journal Articles

  References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
  • Article: Evaluation of a rapid analyte measurement platform and real-time reverse-transcriptase...
  • Article: West Nile virus outbreak in humans, Greece, 2012: third consecutive...
  • Article: National capacity for surveillance, prevention, and control of West Nile...
  • West Nile Virus -- see more articles
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• Organizations

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Also available in Spanish
  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
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• Statistics

  • West Nile Virus Activity by State - United States, 2013 (as of December 3, 2013)(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • West Nile Virus Maps(U.S. Geological Survey)
  • West Nile Virus Neuroinvasive Disease Incidence by State - United States, 2013 (as of December 3,2013)(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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• Children

  • Preventing West Nile Virus(American Academy of Pediatrics)
  • What's West Nile Virus?(Nemours Foundation)
  • Also available in Spanish
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• Teenagers

  • West Nile Virus(Nemours Foundation)
  • Also available in Spanish
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• Women

  • FAQ: Pregnancy and Breastfeeding(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • West Nile Virus Infection and Pregnancy(Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) - PDF
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• Patient Handouts

  • West Nile virus
  • Also available in Spanish
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