About West Nile Virus

West Nile virus is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. The virus can infect people, horses, many types of birds, and some other animals.

Most people who become infected with West Nile virus will have either no symptoms or only mild ones. However, on rare occasions, West Nile virus infection can result in severe and sometimes fatal illnesses.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is no evidence to suggest that West Nile virus can be spread from person to person or from animal to person. In 2002, the CDC recorded 284 deaths from 4,156 human cases of West Nile virus. There were six reported human cases of West Nile virus in North Carolina last year.  One of those cases was in a Mecklenburg County resident.  When testing of dead birds ended in North Carolina (November 12, 2002), the Health Department's Public Health Pest Management Program (PHPM) had collected and submitted 117 birds for West Nile virus testing. These birds were collected from 26 Mecklenburg County zip codes between May 1 and November 6, 2002. Of those birds, 58 tested positive for West Nile virus. The State will not begin testing dead birds for West Nile before July 1, 2003.  To report a dead bird to the Mecklenburg County Health Department, call 704-353-0350. To report mosquitoes or standing water, call The Department's Public Health Pest Management Program at 704-336-5101.