WNV Spread Requires Mosquitoes and Birds

Birds, humans, and other mammals are West Nile virus hosts—animals that provide an environment for viral reproduction—but birds are the most important hosts.

Circle flow chart of a mosquito with an arrow pointing to a bird with an arrow point back to the mosquito. Small hexagons scattered around the arrows represent the spreading of a virus.

The Role of Birds in West Nile Virus Transmission

Dr. Marm Kilpatrick