West Nile virus is a disease transmitted by certain mosquitoes that can cause serious brain inflammation. West Nile Virus originated in Uganda, in 1937. The virus has now spread across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. The virus is most commonly spread through mosquitoes, particularly the Culex pipiens mosquito. Humans are most commonly affected, especially those over the age of 50, by this disease although some animals such as bats, horses, cats, dogs, skunks and many more. The mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds. The infected birds become infected when they prey on a sick or dead birds that are already carrying the virus. The first reported case of the disease was in Queens, New York, in 1999. Symptoms of
