What are the symptoms of West Nile virus infection?
Most people who are infected with the West Nile virus will not have any type of illness. It is estimated that 20% of the people who become infected will develop West Nile fever: mild symptoms, including fever, headache, and body aches, occasionally with a skin rash on the trunk of the body and swollen lymph glands.The symptoms of severe infection (West Nile encephalitis or meningitis) include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis. It is estimated that 1 in 150 persons infected with the West Nile virus will develop a more severe form of disease.

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1. What are the symptoms of West Nile virus infection?
2. What is the incubation period in humans (i.e., time from infection to onset of disease symptoms) for West Nile encephalitis?
3. How long do symptoms last?
4. If I have West Nile Fever, can it turn into West Nile encephalitis?
5. Has West Nile virus caused severe illness or death in horses?
6. How do the horses become infected with West Nile virus?
7. How does the virus cause severe illness or death in horses?
8. Can I get infected with West Nile virus by caring for an infected horse?
9. Can a horse infected with West Nile virus infect horses in neighboring stalls?
10. My horse is vaccinated against eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), western equine encephalitis (WEE), and Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE). Will these vaccines protect my horse against WNV?
11. Can I vaccinate my horse against West Nile virus infection?
12. How long will a horse infected with West Nile virus be infectious?
13. What is the treatment for a horse infected with West Nile virus? Should it be destroyed?
14. Where can I get more information on horses and West Nile virus?
15. Can West Nile virus cause illness in dogs or cats?
16. How can my veterinarian treat my cat or dog if they are/may be infected with WNV?
17. Does my dog / cat becoming infected pose a risk to the health of my family or other animals?
18. How do cats and dogs become infected with West Nile virus?
19. Can I become infected with WNV if a dog with the virus bites me?
20. Is there a vaccine for cats or dogs?
21. Should a dog or cat infected with West Nile virus be destroyed?
22. Can I use insect repellent on my pets?
23. Do birds infected with West Nile Virus die or become ill?
24. How can I report a sighting of dead bird(s) in my area?