Mosquitos become infected by biting a bird which carries the virus, and the virus is thought to be spread to other parts of the country by migrating birds with the virus, according to Jim Cayea, director of the Clinton County Health Department. Since its emergence in New York in 1999, the CDC reports West Nile has also been documented in Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and the District of Columbia. Mosquitos, generally considered to be a nuisance pest, can occasionally transmit disease. Of the 65 different species of mosquito in New York state, most do not transmit West Nile. The female Culex pipiens mosquito, also known as the common house mosquito, is most commonly associated with the virus, according to the New York State Department of Health.
Most male mosquitos are vegetarians.
The West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne infection which can cause viral encephalitis. According to the New York State Department of Health, most of the people infected with West Nile last year either did not experience any symptoms, or they experienced mild symptoms before recovering fully. Symptoms may include fever, headaches, body aches, a mild rash or swollen lymph nodes. In some individuals, especially infants, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems, severe encephalitis can cause permanent neurological damage and death. Because West Nile is a viral infection, there is no cure.