What are the symptoms of West Nile virus?

Information on West Nile Virus. Provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. read more

Symptoms. No symptoms in most people. Most people (8 out of 10) infected with West Nile virus do not develop any symptoms. Febrile illness (fever) in some people. About 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. read more

Most people infected with West Nile virus either don't develop signs or symptoms or have only minor ones, such as fever and mild headache. However, some people develop a life-threatening illness that includes inflammation of the spinal cord or brain. read more

West Nile virus infection is also called West Nile fever or West Nile encephalitis. The virus is a type of arbovirus ("arbo" comes from ARrthropod-BOrne, as many insects are arthropods). It is a member of the Flavivirus genus and the family Flaviviridae. read more

West Nile encephalitis is an infection of the brain that is caused by a virus known as the West Nile virus. First identified in Uganda in 1937, the virus is commonly found in Africa, West Asia, and the Middle East. read more