Garrett Folchert
Dr. Janousek
Elements of Health
October 17, 2014
West Nile Virus
Imagine a virus that you can get just from getting a small mosquito bite. For most
people during the summer they are outside enjoying the beautiful weather. Whether you
are outside in the yard having a picnic, at the lake, a park, or grilling in the backyard, and
you feel a bite and look down and you see a red swollen mosquito bite. The bite starts to
itch and is just a pain for the person who gets bit. Mosquitos have been a pain to humans
for the longest time and know they have the potential of carrying a virus with them. This
virus is very relevant in the U.S. it is called the West Nile virus. This virus is transmitted to
humans by a bite from a mosquito that has the virus. We will look at what it is, the
symptoms where people get affected at, and the likelihood of getting the virus.
According to Merrian-Webster dictionary, “West Nile virus is a flavivirus
species West Nile virus of the genus Flavivirus that causes an illness marked by fever,
headache, muscle ache, skin rash, and sometimes encephalitis or meningitis and that is
spread especially from birds to humans by mosquitoes.” The first reported case of the
West Nile virus in the United States was in 1999, it affected a person in New York, stated by
(West Nile virus background). Since then virus has spread throughout the United States
and has affected most of the states. The most relevant time to get the virus is in the
summer from July to September is when the most reported cases are. In Nebraska, alone in
2014 there were 99 cases reported and it affected 43 counties, according to West Nile virus
human maps 2014.
Some of the common signs and symptoms include fever, headache, body aches,
vomiting, fatigue, back pain, skin rash, swollen lymph glands, and eye pain. This stage of
West Nile virus can last from three days to two weeks. If it enters the brain it can become
very deadly and tragic however, less than 1% of people who are infected will develop a
serious neurologic illness such as encephalitis or meningitis inflammation of the brain or
surrounding tissues, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP).
These symptoms of neurologic illness can include headache, high fever, neck stiffness,
disorientation, coma, tremors, seizures, or paralysis. This recovery can take up to several
weeks to months and could be permanent in the long run.
People over the age of 50 are more likely to get the virus due to the fact that there
immune systems are weaker. Also people with certain medical conditions, such as cancer,
diabetes, hypertension and kidney disease are also at greater risk for serious illness.
According to CDCP, “Most people 70-80% who become infected with West Nile virus do not
develop any symptoms.” That is a good sign in case you do get a mosquito a person doesn’t
have to go into panic attack. Also according to Mayo clinic, about 20 percent of people
develop a mild infection called West Nile fever. These symptoms are fever, headache, body
aches, fatigue, back pain, skin rash, swollen lymph glands, and eye pain. There is no
specific treatment for West Nile virus infection or vaccine to prevent it. So take precaution
during the summer months use bug spray or mosquito repellent. Stay away from standing
water pools, wear clothes that cover your body, use screen doors so they don’t get in your
house, and just be smart if you do get a bite pay attention to it and go to the doctor if you
get any symptoms of the West Nile virus.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
November 22, 2013. http://www.cdc.gov/westnile/symptoms/
Merriam-Webster Dictionary. West Nile Virus.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/
"West Nile Virus Background." CDC. Wednesday April 24, 2013.
http://diseasemaps.usgs.gov/wnv_background.html
West Nile Virus Maps Human - Nebraska." West Nile Virus Maps - Human Nebraska. Tuesday October 07, 2014
http://diseasemaps.usgs.gov/wnv_ne_human.html