west nile
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- What is West Nile virus?
- West Nile Virus is a flavivirus commonly found in Africa, West Asia, and the Middle East. It is closely related to St. Louis encephalitis virus which is also found in the United States. The virus can infect humans, birds, mosquitoes, horses and some other mammals
- What is the most severe form of west nile?
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neuroinvasive disease.
Specific types of neuroinvasive disease include: West Nile encephalitis, West Nile meningitis or West Nile meningoencephalitis. Encephalitis refers to an inflammation of the brain, meningitis is an inflammation of the membrane around the brain and the spinal cord, and meningoencephalitis refers to inflammation of the brain and the membrane surrounding it. West Nile Fever is another type of illness that can occur in people who become infected with the virus. It is characterized by fever, headache, tiredness, aches and sometimes rash. Although the illness can be as short as a few days, even healthy people have been sick for several weeks. - Is the disease seasonal in its occurrence?
- West Nile encephalitis cases occur primarily in the late summer or early fall.
- How do people get infected with West Nile virus
- The main route of human infection with West Nile virus is through the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds, which may circulate the virus in their blood for a few days. The virus eventually gets into the mosquito's salivary glands. During later blood meals (when mosquitoes bite), the virus may be injected into humans and animals, where it can multiply and possibly cause illness.
- What are the symptoms of West Nile virus (WNV) infection
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Infection with WNV can be asymptomtic (no symptoms), or can lead to West Nile fever or severe West Nile disease.
West Nile fever. Symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness, and body aches, occasionally with a skin rash (on the trunk of the body) and swollen lymph glands. While the illness can be as short as a few days, even healthy people have reported being sick for several weeks. - West nile severe symptoms
- The symptoms of severe disease (also called neuroinvasive disease, such as West Nile encephalitis or meningitis or West Nile poliomyelitis) include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis.
- Who is at risk for getting West Nile encephalitis
- All residents of areas where virus activity has been identified are at risk of getting West Nile encephalitis; persons over 50 years of age have the highest risk of severe disease.
- What can I do to reduce my risk of becoming infected with West Nile virus?
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Apply insect repellent to exposed skin.
When weather permits, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants whenever you are outdoors.
Place mosquito netting over infant carriers when you are outdoors with infants.
Consider staying indoors at dawn, dusk, and in the early evening, which are peak mosquito biting times.
Install or repair window and door screens so that mosquitoes cannot get indoors.
drain sources of standing water. - What birds are involved in West Nile?
- blue jays, raven, crows
- What is the lifecycle of the mosquito?
- Every 10 to 14 days an adult female mosquito, which can live for up to 30 days, lays her egg rafts on water. Within two days, the eggs hatch into larvae. During the last underwater stage of the lifecycle, which can last between four and 14 days, the larvae develop into pupae. Within four days the pupae emerge as adult mosquitoes.