General Information:
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About WNV AND MORE!

         WNV is a mosquito borne virus of the Japanese encephalitis virus serocomplex.                                                                                http://www.agri-med.com/site/255063/page/778848
         Family: Flaviviridae
       Genus: Flavivirus
         The virus is cycled primarily between wild birds, acting as the resevoir, and
         CULEX  spp. mosquitoes, acting as the vector.  Horses are believed to be
         a dead end host.
         WNV causes acute polioencephalomyelitis in humans, birds and horses. 
         First identified in a woman in Uganda in 1937 it has since spread through
         Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe.  In 1999 WNV was isolated     
         in an outbreak in New York, USA.  By 2005 it had spread to most states
         including California most provinces in Canada
         and Mexico  [1,10]. 

         Animals and arthropods possibly at risk and/or found with WNV infection [1]:

• Wetland and terrestrial birds.  Migratory birds are possibly the route of introduction into new geographic areas
• WNV infections are often fatal in corvids (crows, blue jays and magpies)
• Mosquitos: Culex spp. Widespread in N. America, C. pipiens (eastern & Midwestern regions of the USA).  C. tarsalis (panhandle region and western region)
• Ticks
• Amphibians, reptiles including farmed alligators and crocodiles
• Mice, squirrels, cats, dogs, camelids and sheep, horses
• Humans