Sheep, hamsters, mice, and some species of monkeys display a variety of symptoms ranging from mild illness to death. After being bitten by a mosquito that is infected with West Nile Virus. West Nile Virus can only be contracted through the bite of an infected mosquito. There is no evidence that a person can get the virus from handling live or dead infected birds. West Nile Virus can only be contracted through the bite of an infected mosquito.
Most infected people show no symptoms or have mild symptoms of disease.
Mild symptoms include fever, headache, and body aches, often with skin rash and swollen lymph glands. More severe cases can be marked by headache, high fever, stiff neck, disorientation, coma, tremors, paralysis and, death. Fatalities are more likely in people over the age of 50. There is no known cure for West Nile fever. However, the symptoms can be lessened through proper medical attention.