1. Rebecca Pu and Samhitha Sunkara
West Nile Virus

2. What is the West Nile Virus?
Type of virus known as flavivirus and arbovirus (mosquito-borne virus)
mainly infecting birds and mosquitos
They transmit it to humans and other animals
causes flu-like symptoms (West Nile fever)
Has no known treatment
can lead to brain inflammation
You know you have it if: fever, headache, muscle weakness, encephalitis or meningitis
Been around for 76 years

3. History of West Nile Virus
disease started in West Nile Province of Uganda in 1937 from woman
Outbreaks began in Middle East and Africa
first documented in North America during 1999 NY outbreak
Source to NY = migrating birds, mosquitoes, immigrants

4. How the disease is spread
actually not spread from person to person
Unless possibly from pregnant
mother to baby
spread through infected mosquitoes
Mosquito gets infected from feeding on infected bird
virus gets into person that mosquito bites

5. Symptoms for the Mildly Ill
20% of infected have mild symptoms
Fever headache abdominal pain body aches nausea vomiting diarrhea lack of appetite nausea rash sore throat
Swollen lymph nodes
80% people show no symptoms
milder symptoms last 3-16 days

6. SyMptoms For the Seriously Ill
usually occur within days
1/150 people infected develop serious illness. serious symptoms include
High fever headache neck stiffness disorientation coma tremors convulsions muscle weakness vision loss numbness paralysis confusion brain inflammation
symptoms can last several months

7. Current Research Pasteur Institute in Paris found a West Nile gene
West Nile gene allows the virus to continue reproducing
Lab in Fort Collins sorts out mosquitoes to track source
bugs are tested to know:
rate at which the virus is spreading
where pesticides are needed
whether the pesticides are effective or not

8. Treatment of the Disease
No cure, no vaccine, no specific treatment
Mild case treatment = resting, drinking, and medicine to relieve fever and discomfort
severe cases = hospital’s supportive care
hospital helps body fight disease on its own
Necessary fluids given through an IV vein
ventilators help breathing
Medications for seizures, nausea, vomiting, or brain swelling

9. Who is most susceptible
Very old people
Very young people
People with high blood pressure
People with diabetes

10. Works Cited
Abramovitz, Melissa. West Nile Virus. San Diego, CA: Lucent, Print
Board, A.D.A.M. Editorial. "West Nile Virus." PubMed Health. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 18 Jan Web. 11 Feb. 2013
Considine, Glenn D., and Peter H. Kulik. Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. New York, NY: Wiley-Interscience, Prin

11. Works Cited
“Questions and Answers." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d. Web. 13 Feb “West Nile Virus Facts." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 13 Feb "West Nile Virus Treatment." West Nile Virus Treatment. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb

12. Works Cited
"West Nile Virus: What You Need To Know." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 12 Sept Web. 11 Feb "West Nile Virus-Treatment Overview." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 13 Feb WHITMAN, JAKE. "West Nile Virus: Fighting the Largest Outbreak in U.S. History." ABC News. ABC News Network, 17 Sept Web. 13 Feb. 2013