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Jul 3, 2023 · Severe symptoms from West Nile virus are uncommon though people over 60 face a higher risk of severe illness if infected. Those with medical conditions, such as cancer , diabetes , hypertension or kidney disease , or who have undergone organ transplants, also are at an increased risk of serious health complications due to the virus.
Feb 21, 2024 · Dengue and West Nile virus are both mosquito-borne diseases that can cause significant illness in humans. While they share some similarities in terms of symptoms, there are also notable differences that can help distinguish between the two.
Aug 24, 2024 · It’s mosquitoes — particularly Culex mosquitoes — that spread the virus.Since West Nile was first detected in the U.S. in 1999, it’s become the most common mosquito-borne illness in the country....
May 15, 2024 · Key points. West Nile virus can result in febrile illness or neurologic disease, including meningitis or encephalitis. If you think you or a family member might have West Nile virus disease (West Nile), talk with your health care provider. There is no specific treatment for West Nile.
- Outbreaks
- Transmission
- Signs and Symptoms
- Diagnosis
- Treatment and Vaccine
- Vector and Animal Hosts
- Prevention
- Who Response
West Nile Virus (WNV) was first isolated in a woman in the West Nile district of Uganda in 1937. It was identified in birds (crows and columbiformes) in Nile delta region in 1953. Before 1997 WNV was not considered pathogenic for birds, but at that time in Israel a more virulent strain caused the death of different bird species presenting signs of ...
Human infection is most often the result of bites from infected mosquitoes. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds, which 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 an...
Infection with WNV is either asymptomatic (no symptoms) in around 80% of infected people, or can lead to West Nile fever or severe West Nile disease. About 20% of people who become infected with WNV will develop West Nile fever. Symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness, and body aches, nausea, vomiting, occasionally with a skin rash (on the trun...
West Nile virus can be diagnosed by a number of different tests: 1. IgG antibody sero-conversion (or significant increase in antibody titers) in two serial specimen collected at a one week interval by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); 2. IgM antibody capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); 3. neutralisation assays; 4. viral dete...
Treatment is supportive for patients with neuro-invasive West Nile virus, often involving hospitalization, intravenous fluids, respiratory support, and prevention of secondary infections. No vaccine is available for humans.
WN virus is maintained in nature in a mosquito-bird-mosquito transmission cycle. Mosquitoes of the genus Culex are generally considered the principal vectors of WNV, in particular Cx. Pipiens. WNV is maintained in mosquito populations through vertical transmission (adults to eggs). Birds are the reservoir hosts of WNV. In Europe, Africa, Middle Eas...
Preventing transmission in horses
Since WNV outbreaks in animals precede human cases, the establishment of an active animal health surveillance system to detect new cases in birds and horses is essential in providing early warning for veterinary and human public health authorities. In the Americas, it is important to help the community by reporting dead birds to local authorities. Vaccines have been developed for horses. Treatment is supportive and consistent with standard veterinary practices for animals infected with a vira...
Reducing the risk of infection in people
In the absence of a vaccine, the only way to reduce infection in people is by raising awareness of the risk factors and educating people about the measures they can take to reduce exposure to the virus. Public health educational messages should focus on the following: 1. Reducing the risk of mosquito transmission. Efforts to prevent transmission should first focus on personal and community protection against mosquito bites through the use of mosquito nets, personal insect repellent, by wearin...
Vector Control
Effective prevention of human WNV infections depends on the development of comprehensive, integrated mosquito surveillance and control programmes in areas where the virus occurs. Studies should identify local mosquito species that play a role in WNV transmission, including those that might serve as a “bridge” from birds to human beings. Emphasis should be on integrated control measures including source reduction (with community participation), water management, chemicals, and biological contr...
The WHO regional office for Europe and WHO region of the Americas are intensively supporting WNV surveillance and outbreak response activities respectively in Europe and in North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, together with country offices and international partners.
Aug 8, 2023 · The West Nile virus is an enveloped, single-stranded RNA arbovirus that can cause disease in humans. These range from the asymptomatic infected patient to fever and malaise to florid neurological deficits secondary to encephalitis and neuroinvasive disease.
People also ask
Is West Nile a virus?
Does West Nile virus cause severe neurologic disease?
Does West Nile virus cause meningitis or encephalitis?
What causes West Nile virus? West Nile is an arbovirus, or a virus you get from an arthropod (arthropods are a large group that includes insects). It’s an RNA virus in the genus Flavivirus. Similar viruses cause dengue fever, yellow fever and Zika.
