Summary

Factors that affect West Nile virus spread:

  • The virus genetic makeup;
  • The type of mosquito it infects;
  • The mosquito’s feeding preferences;
  • The host’s susceptibility to infection;
  • The host’s prevalence in areas where mosquitoes live;
  • Climate and temperature.
An illustration of a bird and a mosquito with clockwise arrows and hexagons leading from the bird to the mosquito and vice versa. A green arrow labeled Food, Space, and Breeding Sites points to the bird. Green arrows labeled Weather and Climate point to the bird and the arrow leading to the mosquito. Four arrows forming a circle labeled Vector Life Cycle appear below the mosquito. A green arrow labeled Weather and Climate and a second green arrow labeled Food, Space, and Breeding Sites both point to the vector life cycle.Green arrows labeled Predators and Pathogens point to the arrow leading to the bird.
Factors that affect the West Nile virus transmission cycle