Metro Guard Mosquito Information

West Nile Virus

West Nile virus is a disease spread by mosquitoes. People react differently to the virus ranging from mild to severe reactions.

West Nile virus was first identified in 1937 in Uganda in eastern Africa. It was first discovered in the United States in the summer of 1999 in New York. Since then, the virus has been reported throughout the United States.

The West Nile virus is a type of virus known as a flavivirus. It is believed West Nile virus is spread when a mosquito bites an infected bird and then bites a person.  Mosquitoes carry the highest amounts of virus in the early fall, which is why the rate of the disease increases in late August to early September.   Although many people are bitten by mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus, most do not know they've been exposed. Few people develop severe disease or even notice any symptoms at all.

Signs of West Nile virus infection are similar to those of other viral infections. There may be no specific findings on a physical examination. However, up to half of patients with West Nile virus infection report having a rash.