How is it passed from mosquitoes to people?
Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on virus infected birds. The West Nile Virus may circulate only a few days in a bird. After an incubation period of 10-14 days, infected mosquitoes can transmit West Nile virus to humans or other animals. Disease symptoms do not develop in everyone that is bitten by an infected mosquito. Records from last summer’s disease outbreak in New York City showed that elderly and physically weak people were more likely to develop symptoms.
