Mosquitoes are capable of spreading a number of viruses. These viruses are called arboviruses, which stands for arthropod-borne virus. The two arboviruses we are mainly concerned with here in eastern North Carolina are Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile Virus (WNV).
Both of these viruses involve a complicated transmission cycle between mosquitoes and birds. Certain mosquitoes can acquire the virus from an infected bird and potential bridge it to the mammal population such as humans.