WEST
NILE VIRUS.
With all of the new health concerns blanketing the
nightly news, it's time to be reminded of a virus that had us all talking last
summer. We watched as the West Nile virus spread from the East Coast in 1999,
making its way to Wisconsin with a bang in 2002. One element that makes the West
Nile virus unique is that it affects both humans and animals, alike. Who is safe?
How can we protect our animals? What is it? Where did it come from? Will it ever
go away?
What is West Nile virus? The West Nile virus is a
viral infection that is transmitted through infected mosquitoes. The virus initially
is harbored in infected birds
and carried to humans by mosquitoes. The virus is not transmitted from human
to human.
How do I know if I have been infected? The signs of West
Nile virus are quite general. One patient may experience no symptoms, while another
experiences a
wide variety of flu-like symptoms.
If you live in an area that has had cases of West Nile virus and are bitten by
a mosquito, you may experience an abrupt onset of fever, chills, muscle aches,
headache or you just won't feel well. The symptoms may take between a couple
of days and a couple of weeks to show up. Usually, people will spontaneously
recover within a few days.
Unfortunately, some people with underlying medical problems cannot fight the
disease as easily as others. Their condition may progress to encephalitis, which
is a swelling of the brain. In addition, they may develop meningitis, an inflammation
of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. These patients feel miserable and
appear quite ill. The tell-tale symptoms of encephalitis and meningitis are a
very bad headache and neck pain. Movement of the neck and legs may worsen the
headache. These conditions can be fatal.
What should I do? In general, for people with no underlying
diseases and who are quite healthy, rest and plenty of fluids are recommended.
To control a fever,
headache or generalized pains, acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil,
Motrin) will work. As a rule, it is always wise to avoid the use of aspirin with
viruses. Doing so can be fatal.
For those patients that appear very ill and complain of high fever, severe headache,
stiff neck and generalized weakness, it is important to visit your doctor or
go to the hospital.
What can I expect? There is no specific treatment for the
West Nile virus. If hospitalized, a patient will receive supportive care, which
may include IV fluids,
pain management and respiratory care. Secondary infections may also need to be
treated.
Usually hospitalized patients have underlying medical problems such as a weak
immune system or cardiac and respiratory disease. Most fatalities, as a result
of the West Nile virus, have occurred in the elderly.
How can I protect myself? Prevention is the best method
of treatment. To avoid contact with mosquitoes in areas that are known to have
the West Nile virus,
stay indoors during the dawn and dusk hours, when mosquitoes are most active;
wear protective clothing; and most importantly, use insect repellant containing
DEET. Thirty percent DEET is safe in adults, but children should not be exposed
to repellants with DEET higher than 10 percent.
Protect your home environment by spraying for mosquitoes and eliminating as much
standing water as possible. This includes puddles, bird baths, plugged rain gutters
or containers with water. All of these areas are breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Should I get vaccinated? At present, there is no effective
vaccination to prevent
the disease. Ongoing research is continuing in this area.
The West Nile virus can have serious consequences for infected patients with
chronic underlying medical problems. However, in general, healthy people are
not severely affected. Considering the number of mosquito bites that are encountered
in the summer months, the rate of West Nile infections is actually very small.
Prevention and common sense are important in dealing with this virus. As always,
if you have questions, see your doctor.
