Is West Nile Virus and Dengue the same thing?

Answer 1

From WebMD:

"West Nile virus causes an infection that is spread by certain species of mosquitoes, which become infected when they bite infected birds. The mosquitoes spread the virus to people. Most West Nile virus infections cause either no symptoms or symptoms that are so mild that people do not realize they have been infected. In rare cases, it can lead to inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) or the tissues surrounding the brain and the spinal cord (meningitis)."

"Dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) are viral diseases transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, usually Ae. aegypti. The four dengue viruses (DEN-1 through DEN-4) are immunologically related, but do not provide cross-protective immunity against each other."

So, no, they are NOT the same, just both transmitted by mosquitoes. Check the sites below for more information on each disease. Hope this answers your questions!

Answer 2

Virus Of Dengue

Answer 3

2

Answer 4

Dengue fever is a viral infection that's found in 100 countries and causes half-a-million hospitalizations and thousands of deaths each year.

West Nile virus is spread by infected mosquitoes, and can cause serious, life-altering and even fatal disease. Virus transmission may still be occurring in many parts of the country so don't let your guard down. Still keep insect repellent handy, wear long sleeves and long pants and get rid of mosquito breeding sites in the yard.

Answer 5

Dengue fever Dengue fever (IPA: ['deŋgeɪ]) and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) are acute febrile diseases, found in the tropics, with a geographical spread similar to malaria. Caused by one of four closely related virus serotypes of the genus Flavivirus, family Flaviviridae, each serotype is sufficiently different that there is no cross-protection and epidemics caused by multiple serotypes (hyperendemicity) can occur. Dengue is transmitted to humans by the mosquito Aedes aegypti (rarely Aedes albopictus).
This infectious disease is manifested by a sudden onset of fever, with severe headache, muscle and joint pains (myalgias and arthralgias — severe pain gives it the name break-bone fever or bonecrusher disease) and rashes; the dengue rash is characteristically bright red petechia and usually appears first on the lower limbs and the chest - in some patients, it spreads to cover most of the body. There may also be gastritis with some combination of associated abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.


West Nile virus is a virus of the family Flaviviridae, found in both tropical and temperate regions. It mainly infects birds, but is known to infect humans, horses, cats, bats, chipmunks, skunks, squirrels, and domestic rabbits. The main route of human infection is through the bite of an infected mosquito.In most people (80%), infection causes no symptoms. In others, the virus causes mild flu-like symptoms known as West Nile fever, with symptoms including malaise, fever, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, eye pain, headache, myalgia, diarrhea, rash, and lymphadenopathy. The virus is able to pass the blood-brain barrier, and the most serious effects (in 0.7% of the infected) are encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord), both of which can be fatal. Persons over 50 years of age are at higher risk of developing these more serious complications, with symptoms including meningismus, changes in mental status, occasional seizures, and coma. In rare cases (first reported October 2002), patients may develop temporary blindness which can last from one to four weeks. This will begin as partial blindness but the person's vision will rapidly deteriorate to total blindness.The virus is mostly maintained in birds (in the Western hemisphere, particularly the American Robin and the American Crow). Female mosquitoes, mainly of the species Culex pipiens, Culex restuan, and Culex quinquefasciatus, bite infected birds, carry the virus in their salivary glands, and infect other birds when they bite again. Culex pipiens is thought to be the main mosquito species which transmits the virus from birds to mammals. In mammals the virus does not multiply as readily, and it is believed that mosquitoes biting infected mammals do not further transmit the virus.

Answer 6

west nile is the vector while dengue is the disease.