80% of people with this virus don’t have any symptoms
Name
West Nile Virus aka WNV (name comes from the West Nile district of Uganda where it was discovered in 1937)
Transmission
- A virus that lives in birds but can spread to and infect humans, horses, and other mammals
- When mosquitoes bite birds infected with WNV, the virus enters the mosquitoes and when those infected mosquitoes bite humans and other mammals, the virus spreads
- West Nile virus is mainly transmitted to people through the bites of infected mosquitoes
- Though rare, human infections have also occurred through organ transplant, blood transfusions, and breast milk from an infected person
Geography
Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America and West Asia
Incubation Period
2 – 14 days
Signs and Symptoms
80% of infected people do not show any symptoms but common symptoms include:
- Fever
- Tiredness
- Nausea
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Swollen lymph glands
- Body aches
- Skin rash
Approximately 1 in 150 people develop a more severe form of disease with the following symptoms:
- Neck stiffness
- Coma
- Tremors
- Disorientation
- High fever
- Seizures
- Paralysis
Diagnosis
Laboratory testing of blood and spinal fluid samples
Treatment
- There is no vaccine or specific treatment for WNV
- Those with the more severe form of the disease receive supportive treatment for the symptoms which can include intravenous fluids, pain medications, respiratory support, and prevention of secondary infections
Prognosis
- People with mild symptoms typically recover on their own, although some symptoms may last for several weeks
- The severe form of WNV can lead to death for 10% of the patients that develop it
- This severe form begins with brain swelling and meningitis
- Recovery from the severe disease may take several weeks or months
- For those that survive, some of the neurological symptoms may never go away
Prevention: What Can You Do?
Avoid mosquito bites:
- Use insect repellent
- Wear long, light colored protective clothing
West Nile Virus In the News
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/westnile/
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs354/en/