Which animals are considered dead-end hosts for West Nile virus?

The correct answer indicates that birds and mammals are considered dead-end hosts for West Nile virus. In the context of viral infections, a "dead-end host" refers to a species that does not contribute to the further transmission of the virus to other susceptible hosts.

In the case of West Nile virus, birds are the primary reservoirs, meaning they can maintain the virus and allow it to amplify in the population. Other animals, including mammals and humans, become infected but do not have sufficient viral loads to spread the virus back to mosquitoes, which are necessary for further transmission. Essentially, while birds can propagate the virus and pass it on to mosquitoes, humans and other mammals cannot effectively do so, categorizing them as dead-end hosts.

This understanding is crucial in epidemiology, as it helps researchers and public health officials identify which species can maintain or amplify the virus and which cannot. This knowledge assists in structuring public health responses and controlling the spread of the virus, particularly in identifying and focusing on vector control strategies.