The U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, today confirmed that a dead crow found in North Carolina is positive for West Nile Virus, the first evidence of the disease found in the state. The crow was found September 27 at Jordan Lake State Park in Chatham County by a conservation biologist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. West Nile Virus can be transmitted to humans when a mosquito bites an infected bird and then bites a human. West Nile Virus may cause flu-like symptoms in humans, such as headache, swollen glands, and muscle aches, as well as a rash. Usually West Nile Virus only causes mild disease in humans, but in rare cases the virus may cause encephalitis and even death.
Elderly people are more likely to be severely affected by West Nile Virus.
In reality, West Nile Virus is usually a mild disease. Unfortunately, that message didn't come through during last year's coverage of the New York City situation. The New York State and City Health Departments and the CDC did random testing of people in the Queens area of New York City, where most of last year's cases were reported. 2.6 percent of those tested had antibodies to the West Nile virus, which showed that they had been exposed. West Nile Virus originates from Africa, west Asia, and Europe.