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Contracting West Nile Virus from a mosquito bite constitutes an accident under an accident insurance policy.
The appellant, a plasterer, was bitten by a mosquito carrying the West Nile virus while working outside and was rendered a paraplegic.
His initial action against the respondent insurer was dismissed on the basis that his injury was not caused by an 'accident' under his group accident insurance policy.
The Court of Appeal allowed the appeal, finding that the illness was an unforeseen, unexpected event caused by an external source, and therefore fell within the ordinary definition of an accident.
