West Nile fever

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/west-nile-fever

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the virus family?Flaviviridae
2. What is the predominant mosquito vectors?Culex species
3. How do mosquitoes get the virus?Mosquitoes bite birds that are infected with the virus. The virus then lives in the mosquito and can be passed on to other birds or to people.
4. Why do some people get very sick from West Nile fever?Most people feel no symptoms. About 20% get a fever and body aches, and less than 1% can develop serious brain problems, especially if they are older or have weak immune systems.

Epidemiology: The study of how diseases spread and affect populations.
Enzootic: A disease that is regularly found among particular animals in a specific area.
Viremia: The presence of virus particles in the bloodstream.
Neuroinvasive Disease: A severe form of illness affecting the nervous system, such as encephalitis or meningitis.