From Birds to People: The West Nile Virus Story

This tutorial explores the effects of West Nile virus infection on different organisms and describes how the virus has spread throughout the United States since 1999.

West Nile virus infects Culex mosquitoes, birds such as crows and jays, and humans—with very different consequences. This Click & Learn describes how each of these three groups is affected by the virus and contributes to the virus’s transmission and spread. Students also learn about the virus’s life cycle and how it depends on factors like temperature and climate.

The accompanying worksheet guides students’ exploration.