What Is West Nile Virus?
3. Alternative Transmission Methods
Although the vast majority of cases of West Nile fever will be transmitted by mosquito bites, it is possible to get the disease in other ways. One of these is by way of blood transfusions and organ transplants from infected people. The chances of this happening in developed countries are very low, however, because blood and tissues are heavily screened.
Another potential cause is exposure to the virus in a laboratory where safety precautions are not strict enough. There is also thought to be a chance that the virus can be passed from mother to child during breastfeeding. Cases of transmission of the virus not involving mosquito bites are rare, however.
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