West Nile Virus Jason Robitaille Slot A

Prevention The following are different ways in which you can avoid mosquito bites: Apply Insect Repellent Containing DEET Clothing Can Help Reduce Mosquito Bites Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours – Mainly at sun-set Drain Standing Water – These are breeding grounds for mosquitoes Make sure screen doors don’t have any tears or rips Report any dead birds you find to local authorities

Known Causes There are three ways you can get West Nile virus: Bite from an infected mosquito Transplantation of an infected organ Transfusion of infected blood

Virus Lifecycle The virus travels from a mosquito to a bird. The infected bird carries it the virus around and soon another mosquito sucks the bird’s blood, transmitting the virus. Other creatures that get infected, such as humans and horses, receive the virus from infected mosquitoes.

Symptoms Most people who are infected with the West Nile virus will not have any type of illness. About 20% of the people who become infected will develop West Nile fever: mild symptoms, including fever, headache, and body aches, occasionally with a skin rash on the trunk of the body and swollen lymph glands. The symptoms of severe infection include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis. Only about 1 in 150 people infected with the West Nile virus will develop a more severe form of disease.

Medical Treatment There is no specific treatment for West Nile virus infection yet. However several university and medical centers around the world are trying to discover a cure.

Lifestyle Changes In the severe cases, intensive supportive therapy is needed, often involving hospitalization, intravenous fluids, airway management, respiratory support, prevention of secondary infections, and good nursing care.

Life Expectancy The risk of developing a serious West Nile virus-related illness after being bitten by an infected mosquito is less than 1%. In most cases people who become infected with the virus recover fully.

Population Infected LEGENDLEGEND Birds submitted for diagnosis (by Health Region)Birds submitted for diagnosis (by Health Region) NO NO YES YES POSITIVE POSITIVE Legend NO YES POSITIVE

Virus History West Nile virus was first discovered in the West Nile District of Uganda in The virus passed to Egypt in the 1950s. The virus became recognized as a cause of severe human meningoencephalitis (inflammation of the spinal cord and brain) in elderly people during an outbreak in Israel in Some infected birds migrated to North America, where new mosquitoes absorbed the virus. The first appearance of WN virus in North America was in 1999, with several infected humans and horses. Since then, the virus has spread throughout Canada and the USA, infecting many.