WNV
Medical abbreviation · Infectious Disease
| Stands for | West Nile virus |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
WNV stands for West Nile virus, an infectious disease abbreviation.
Mosquito-borne flavivirus, spread mainly by Culex mosquitoes that feed on infected birds, and the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental US. About 80 percent of infections cause no symptoms, roughly 1 in 5 cause fever, and fewer than 1 percent cause encephalitis or meningitis.
Example: County confirms first human WNV case of the season; residents urged to use repellent at dusk.
Usage notes
The virus was first isolated in the West Nile district of Uganda in 1937 and reached North America in New York City in 1999. Older adults and transplant recipients face the highest risk of neurologic disease. There is no human vaccine or specific antiviral, though horse vaccines exist. Blood donations are screened for it.
Related abbreviations
More infectious disease abbreviations
- ACIP – Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
- AIDS – Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
- AMR – Antimicrobial resistance
- ARF – Acute rheumatic fever
- ART – Antiretroviral therapy
- ASP – Antimicrobial stewardship program
- BCG – Bacillus Calmette-Guérin
- BSI – Bloodstream infection
- C. diff – Clostridioides difficile
- CD4 – Cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4 T-cell count)
- CDI – Clostridioides difficile infection
- CMV – Cytomegalovirus
See all 92 infectious disease abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.