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West Nile Virus
The West Nile virus first emerged in the Western Hemisphere in 1999
in the New York City area and has since spread across the United States.
The virus is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes.
Most human infections are mild, causing fever, headache and body aches,
often accompanied by a skin rash and swollen lymph glands. If the virus
crosses the blood-brain barrier, however, it can cause life-threatening
conditions that include inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.
For more information about NIAID research on the West Nile virus, see
the following pages:
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