Why Study West Nile Virus?

West Nile virus (WNV) has harmed bird populations and ecosystems, and caused thousands of cases of serious illness in people. Studying how the virus replicates and spreads can help researchers find strategies to combat it.

In addition, studying WNV can help answer important general questions about where infectious diseases come from, how they spread, and why they seem to come and go depending on the season or year.