Serious Diseases We Can Get From Animals

West Nile Virus

The West Nile virus is spread to humans through mosquito bites. Mosquitos pick up the virus from infected birds, and they can spend the rest of their lives spreading the virus to any animal they bite. This virus is incurable and has no effective vaccine. The only way to prevent West Nile virus is to avoid mosquitos during peak mosquito season, which runs from early summer to the beginning of autumn. Symptoms of West Nile virus include headache, body aches, swollen lymph nodes, rash, and fever. Patients are given supportive treatment, usually in a hospital, until the worst of the symptoms go away. While West Nile virus usually doesn't cause death in fairly healthy humans, older individuals and those with compromised immune systems can develop neurological problems. Even then, death typically only occurs in less than one percent of cases.

Uncover more zoonotic diseases everyone should be aware of now.