health

Generally, a person cannot contract WNF from another infected person
or from an infected animal, although transmission of the virus through a
blood transfusion has been confirmed in some cases. Likewise, infected
people cannot spread the virus to animals. Scientists think that the virus
is transmitted almost exclusively by the bite of an infected mosquito. The
chances of becoming ill with WNF actually are very small. Of all the
mosquitoes in any area where infected mosquitoes have been found, less
than 1 percent carry the virus.
The transmission cycle begins when a mosquito bites an infected
bird and takes in blood that contains WNV. If the mosquito then bites
a human, it can transmit the virus to that person. Scientists have found
no evidence that humans can contract the disease by handling live or
dead birds or any other animal that has been infected with the virus. Still,
experts recommend that people never handle a dead animal with bare
hands, instead always using disposable gloves and placing the dead animal
in a plastic bag when discarding it.