[D]U.S. Food and
Drug Administration
FDA Consumer magazine
January-February 2003
Table
of Contents
[D]
West Nile virus can infect wild birds, which serve as reservoirs for the virus.
The cycle begins when mosquitoes bite infected birds to feed on their blood,
and then carry the virus in their salivary glands. The insects can then transmit
the virus when they bite other birds, other animals, and people. Humans and
animals other than birds are called incidental hosts--although not part of the
transmission cycle, they can get ill from West Nile virus infection.
(Source: Center for Disease Control and Prevention)