West Nile Virus Not In News, But Still Causes Serious Illnesses

West Nile Virus is the mosquito-borne infection we don't hear much about, but that hasn't gone away. The Centers for Disease Control report that as recently as 2013 the virus and related arborviruses continued to cause severe neuroinvasive infections.

West Nile Virus is the most common of a group of viruses that also includes La Crosse virus, Jamestown Canyon virus, Powassan virus, eastern equine encephalitis, California serogroup virus, and St. Louis encephalitis virus. All of these viruses attack the central nervous system in birds, mammals such as horses, and humans.

Nationwide, there were 1,267 cases of the virus in humans, with 51% of infections reaching the brain. Most commonly the virus struck people 70 years of age and older, and 9% of people who contracted virus died of the infection. The average age of persons who died of West Nile Virus infections was 78 years.

Here are frequently asked questions and answers about the West Nile Virus.

Was the West Nile Virus brought to this country by West Nile terrorists?

No. The West Nile Virus seems to have arrived with a mosquito in an airplane in 1995. The first cases of the disease in North America were detected in New York City, and it has been spreading westward since. Currently the infection is found in all 48 continental states of the United States, although it has not yet been reported in Alaska or Hawaii.

Is West Nile Virus always deadly?

No. Only about 1% of people who are infected with the virus develop serious symptoms such as meningitis, and many may not ever be diagnosed as having the disease. In people over the age of 50, however, up to 10% may develop a condition known as flaccid paralysis, and deaths in infected people over the age of 70 are not unusual.

How does someone catch West Nile Virus?

The West Nile Virus is spread by mosquitoes, although there is some evidence it may also be contracted by handling wild bird droppings. Because the disease is usually transmitted by mosquitoes, cases seldom occur before June or after November in the Northern Hemisphere.

Is the United States the only country affected by the virus?

No, cases have been noted in Africa, as well as in Israel, Russia, Algeria, France, Romania, and the Czech Republic.

What are the symptoms of West Nile Virus infection?

Three to six days after a bite from a mosquito carrying the infection, there may be headache, backache, eye pain, rash, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and/or fatigue. Fever is relatively rare, occurring in only about 1 in 5 cases. 

Severe cases can cause a blister-like red rash on the trunk, arms, and legs.

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The most severe symptoms of the disease usually do not appear for about a week after the first symptoms from the infection.

More Questions And Answers About West Nile Virus

Are mosquitoes the only source of the disease?

No. There have been cases in babies breastfed by mothers who had the disease, and it is believed to have been passed through a blood transfusion in at least one case.

Are there any other conditions that produce symptoms similar to West Nile Virus?

Severe symptoms of West Nile Virus mimic those in vertebrobasilar (brains stem) stroke. Guillan-Barre syndrome, a condition in children and teens triggered by use of Aspirin or NSAIDs during a viral infection, can cause similar symptoms, as can multiple sclerosis.

What are the most serious complications of the disease?

Usually there are no complications of West Nile Virus infections. However, when the disease causes paralysis, there may be issues with pressure ulcers, deep vein thrombosis, and infections, as there are in other forms of paralysis.

Are there any special risk factors for serious symptoms?

In addition to age, certain conditions that are more often diagnosed after the age of 50 increase the risk of serious symptoms of West Nile Virus.

People who have hypercoagulability disease, whose blood clots too readily, are more likely to develop severe symptoms, as are people who have iron overload diseases such as hereditary hemochromatosis. Diabetics are more susceptible than non-diabetics. as are smokers.

What should I do if I come down with symptoms of West Nile Virus infection?

See your doctor. This condition more often than not passes without causing any serious problems, even in the elderly, but it is not something you can treat on your own.

What can I do to prevent West Nile Virus?

The most useful way to prevent the spread of West Nile Virus, especially after there are news reports of cases in your area, is to prevent the multiplication of mosquitoes. Spraying for mosquitoes, of course, can also cause neurological problems. However, draining ponds and puddles that hold still water, emptying buckets, tires, and cans that hold water, and not allowing water to stand around the bases of potted plants all can help.

When you go outside into a mosquito-infested area, most experts recommend, it is a good idea to spray yourself with a mosquito repellent such as N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, better known as DEET.

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Don't spray mosquito repellents containing the ingredient permethrin directly on your skin. It also helps to wear protective clothing when you go outdoors, long sleeves, long pants, and socks. 

Mosquito-proof your home by making sure doors are closed when they are not in use (this also keeps out mice and rats) and by making sure all open windows are screened. It's OK to let in the breeze, but you don't want to let in the bugs. And when you find dead birds or small mammals that don't seem to have been attacked by other animals, let local public health officials know so they can test for the virus.