The West Nile Virus Essay
The West Nile Virus Essay
The West Nile is considered to be one of the most dangerous viruses, which can be developed from mosquitoes and birds. According to the research, WNV has been spread and developed in the countries mainly with hot climate, for example, in the Middle East, West Asia, and Africa. It was observed for the first time in 1937. It was considered to be rare and sporadic to the mid-1990s. Nowadays, WNV has spread all over the world, what makes the great threat to people`s health. The West Nile Virus Essay. In 1999, it was first identified in NYC. WNV has affected Europe, the United States, Canada, Africa, and Asia. That is why professional authorities are alarming for protective treatment for this disease.
Various species of mosquitoes are the vector of transmission of WNV. The research asserts that the prime carriers of this virus are birds, mainly passerines. The infection is found in humans, crocodiles, alligators, and amphibians, which are also important vectors of the virus. It is worth noting that not all animal species are considered to be the vectors of WNV and its transmission. Experts consider that WNV may become worse, because climate gets hotter. That is why this virus will be getting more dangerous in the nearest future. High temperatures provide an increase of mosquito breeding, therefore, the danger of development of WNV is raised.
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Some experts assert that there could be a new strain of the virus, which would cause the disease to spread more rapidly. They, obviously, came to this conclusion, because the number of infected and dead birds is increasing annually. When mosquitoes bite infected birds, they also catch the virus and then may transmit it to humans. When humans have been bitten by mosquitoes, it can take 2-12 days for the incubation period. In most cases, human feel fever, body aches, headache, and swollen lymph glands. These symptoms are very much the same as flu-like symptoms. Sometimes the virus can damage human brain. The West Nile Virus Essay. As a result, patients, who are infected by the virus, will have dangerous consequences, such as muscle weakness, paralysis, and death. Fortunately, these are rather rare cases, approximately this may occur in 1 percent of accidents.
The research asserts that about 80% percent of infected people do not have any symptoms. Moreover, the West Nile virus is not passed from human to human. In case the infection occurs, patients are able to recover by their own. According to the available information, there is no treatment for WNV. Actually, there was no need to investigate this disease before, because cases of infection were rather rare. The situation has been changed recently, when WNV has been spread in Europe and the USA. Doctors and experts are alarming for the future spread of this virus. Therefore, more and more people will need medical assistance. Many WNV infection experts assert that there is no protection from this virus. Some of them consider that the only thing they can do is to let the disease run its course.
According to the research, the first incident of WNV was observed in the United States in 1999. Initially, many experts considered it to be very rare. The situation has been changed today. Public health authorities reported about the rise of this virus in summer 2012. For example, there were cases of infection in California last August. The available information reports that cases of WNV occurred in Texas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Michigan. As there is no effective treatment or vaccine, doctors advise to prevent mosquitoes to infect humans. Personal protective measures have to be provided in order to protect them from the virus. The West Nile Virus Essay.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that public health authorities have to be ready to
protect people from the West Nile virus and work out programs and vaccines. Due to
the climate change, this virus may become more severe in the future.
This affects a person’s daily life because it doesn’t allow them to do everyday things. Those with certain medical conditions like diabetes and cancer are at a greater risk for serious illness. There is no specific antiviral treatment or vaccine for West Nile Virus. There are over the counter pills that you can buy to reduce and relieve some of the symptoms. If cases become sever patients can go to the hospital and receive supportive treatment like intravenous fluid, nursing care, and pain medication. You can receive West Nile Virus at any age in your life. The West Nile Virus Essay. For younger kids it is harder to experience the symptoms of the disease because they have really high immune systems. Older people are more at risk for the disease because there immune system is very low compared to younger kids. People with HIV and AIDS are at an even higher risk of getting the disease since they have almost no immune system. The United States has spent eight hundred million dollars alone combating the West Nile Virus. Most outbreaks that occur cost about one hundred million dollars for each outbreak that occurs. The cost of medicine and hospitalization depends on how severe the disease is. For some people there body fights off the disease and they just need a day of rest at home. In some severe cases people can spend multiple nights in the hospital receiving antibodies which can cost up to a few hundred dollars depending on how long your stay is and how much your
West Nile Virus (WNV) is a potentially life-threatening viral infection.
It can pass to animals and humans if they are bitten by an infected mosquito
WNV is a virus of the Flaviviridae family, which includes the viruses responsible for Japanese encephalitis and dengue fever.
It mainly affects birds, but it can also be experienced by mammals and reptiles.
Between 70 and 80 percent of people have no symptoms. Up to one percent of those who become ill have serious and potentially fatal complications.
West Nile Virus (WNV) used to exist only in temperate and tropical areas, but in 1999, infections appeared in New York. It has since spread across most of the United States (U.S.), and is a notifiable disease. The West Nile Virus Essay.
Here are some key points about West Nile Virus (WNV). More detail is in the main article.
- Mosquitoes transmit WNV from birds to humans.
- WNV previously did not exist in the U.S., but in 1999, some imported cases triggered an outbreak.
- Around 80 percent of people have no symptoms, but in up to 1 percent of cases, the virus can lead to life-threatening neurological complications.
- The best way to prevent WNV is to avoid mosquito bites.
WNV can affect humans in three different ways:
- Asymptomatic infection: In about 80 percent of cases, there are no signs or symptoms.
- West Nile Fever: Around 20 percent of people experience a mild febrile syndrome.
- Neuroinvasive disease: About 1 percent of patients develop complications in the central nervous system (CNS) that affect the brain and spine. The West Nile Virus Essay.
West Nile fever
Symptoms appear 2 to 8 days after infection. This is known as the incubation period.
They may include:
- backache and muscle aches
- fever and excessive sweating
- diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite
- drowsiness
- headache
- skin rash
- swollen lymph nodes, or glands
These symptoms resolve within 7 to 10 days. Fatigue may linger for several weeks, while glands may be swollen for up to 2 months.
Neuroinvasive disease
Around 1 percent of infected individuals develop more serious neurological infections, and around 10 percent of these cases are fatal.
Possible complications are:
- Encephalitis: Inflammation of the brain
- Meningitis: Inflammation of tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord
- Myelitis, or West Nile poliomyelitis: Inflammation of the spinal cord
- Acute flaccid paralysis: Sudden weakness in the arms, legs and breathing muscles.
Signs and symptoms may include:
- confusion and disorientation
- convulsions
- high fever
- muscle jerking
- pain
- Parkinson’s disease-like symptoms, including tremors
- sudden weakness, poor coordination, and partial paralysis
- severe headache
- stiff neck
- stupor
- coma
Most at risk are people aged over 60 years and those with existing conditions, such as kidney disease, diabetes, cancer, and conditions that weaken the immune system.The West Nile Virus Essay.
Some neurological effects can be permanent.
COVID-19 has made the entire world painfully aware of the terrible power that viruses can wield. Learn how climate change impacts the spread of other viruses, such as West Nile virus, in our feature article.
Infected birds have high levels of the virus. In the U.S., the American robin and the American crow are common carriers.
If a mosquito bites an infected bird, and it then bites a person, the virus will enter the bloodstream of that individual.
The Culex Pipiens mosquito is known to pass on WNV in the U.S.
It remains unknown exactly how the virus works. WNV enters the bloodstream and reproduces, and sometimes it can cross the blood-brain barrier to cause inflammation in the brain.
Transmission is also possible through:
- Blood transfusions: Health authorities now screen patients for WNV before accepting a transfusion.
- Organ transplants: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some centers test organ donors for WNV, whereas others do not.
- Pregnancy: An infected mother can infect her fetus, but the risk is very low.
- Breast-feeding: There is a very small chance of passing on the virus through breast milk, but the risk is so small that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advise mothers to continue breast-feeding.
Risk factors
Certain factors increase the risk of infection.
Seasons: In temperate areas, WNV begins to appear in early spring. Infections peak in late summer and early fall.The West Nile Virus Essay. In tropical and some sub-tropical areas, there is a year-round risk of infection.
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Location: Living in or visiting an area known to have WNV increases the risk of infection. In the U.S., this includes all states except Alaska and Hawaii.
Exposure to mosquitoes: Spending more time outdoors increases the chance of infection after being bitten by an infected mosquito.
Laboratory work: Infection can occur in laboratories where WNV is present.
In the U.S., WNV is a notifiable disease. This means that all cases must be reported to the authorities.
In 1999, WNV was imported to the U.S., triggering a “large and dramatic outbreak,” according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Since then, nearly 44,000 cases have been reported. Of these, over 20,000 people with WNV have have developed neuroinvasive complications and over 1,900 have died.
In 1999, a total of 62 cases were reported, including 7 fatalities, a mortality rate of 11 percent. By 2015, there were 2,175 cases and 146 deaths, or a fatality rate of 7 percent.
The highest number of cases was in 2003, at 9,862, and the highest mortality rate was in 2001, at 15 percent.
From 2016 to January 17, 2017, 2,038 people were reported to have had WNV. 56 percent of these developed neuroinvasive diseases, such as meningitis. The West Nile Virus Essay.
