Happily, the West Nile Virus is not dangerous except to the very elderly and people with damaged immune symptons. In the vast majority of cases, people recover in just a few days.
West Nile hit Memphis about 10 years ago, and I got it. It was like having a bad case of the flu, but without the severe nasal or sinus problems. I was fine after 5 days, and am now immune for life.
I believe that swine flu and bird flu are what you really have to worry about.
Mannyrock