WASHINGTON----Halfway through West Nile season, more than 180 cases of West
Nile virus have been reported in 22 states: Alabama, Arizona,
Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas,
Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North
Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wyoming. In 2006,
44 states reported cases of the disease, and experts predict a rise in
cases due to recent sustained hot weather in parts of the U.S. To help
educate people concerned about the signs and effects of West Nile virus,
RevolutionHealth.com has launched West
Nile Watch, an online resource for those who want to learn more
about the virus.
West Nile virus is spread from birds to humans by several species of
mosquito. The virus, which got its name from the place where it was
first isolated in 1937, has an incubation period of five to 15 days.
Once in the bloodstream, the virus multiplies and spreads, and if it
reaches the brain, the result is encephalitis –
an inflammation of the brain that can affect the entire nervous system.
Although rare, encephalitis is the most serious complication associated
with the virus. The long term effects of the virus after a person
recovers from the symptoms are unknown. At least one study suggests that
persistent movement disorders and cognitive complaints may occur in
people who have had the virus.
While West
Nile virus symptoms vary and the disease can be asymptomatic no
symptoms, the majority of people who experience symptoms describe a
flu-like illness that lasts a few days, including:
-
Fever
-
Headache
-
Tiredness
-
Body aches
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Occasionally, a skin rash on the trunk of the body
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More rarely, paralysis and swollen glands.
“If you live in an area with virus activity
and you spend time outdoors, you are at risk for West Nile, especially
the elderly,” said Dr. Val Jones, Senior
Medical Director of Revolution
Health. “It’s
important to be aware of the threat and know the signs of West Nile in
case you or someone close to you is stricken.”
West Nile virus is not often transmitted via a single mosquito bite, but
via multiple bites from infected mosquitoes. There have been cases of
the virus being transmitted through the breast milk of infected moms, so
it’s important for pregnant and nursing
mothers to be especially careful to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes if
at all possible.
If you think you are exhibiting symptoms and have mosquito bites, go to
your doctor who can conduct a blood test to determine whether infection
has occurred. For a severe case of the virus, your doctor may prescribe
supportive therapy, such as hospitalization, intravenous fluids and
respiratory support. Antibiotics are not effective because a virus, not
bacteria, causes West Nile disease.
“Unfortunately, there is no vaccine for West
Nile virus, so pay attention to avoiding mosquito bites and stay clear
of areas treated with insecticide, since studies show that insecticide
used to kill mosquitoes with West Nile may be harmful to people, as well,”
said Dr. Jones.
There are a number of steps one can take to reduce their risk of
contracting the disease, such as:
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Avoid areas such as marshes where mosquito activity is highest;
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Eliminate mosquito-breeding areas around your home, such as standing
water in plant containers, buckets and rain gutters;
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Avoid going outside during prime feeding time for mosquitoes, dusk,
dawn and after it rains;
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Wear light colored, protective clothing when outside;
-
Avoid wearing sweet smelling perfumes, as they can attract mosquitoes;
and
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Use insect repellent with DEET.
Dr. Jones is a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation specialist with
expertise in obesity and exercise physiology. She attended medical
school at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New
York and also holds a master’s degree from
Dallas Theological Seminary. An award-winning medical writer and
cartoonist, Dr. Jones worked on several biomedical imaging and vaccine
research studies at the Mayo Clinic, and she was also Chief Resident of
Rehabilitation Medicine at St. Vincent’s
Hospital in Manhattan and Principle Investigator of two diabetes and
metabolism trials. Dr. Jones founded the Clinical Nutrition and Obesity
e-section of the Medscape General Medicine journal and is a
member of the American Medical Association, American Academy of Physical
Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Pain Society, American Council on
Exercise and American Obesity Association.
About Revolution Health
Revolution Health Group LLC was created by AOL Co-Founder Steve Case to
create products and services that empower people by putting them at the
center of the health system. The cornerstone of the company is
RevolutionHealth.com, a free consumer health and medical web site that
marries expert content and online tools with the power of social
networking. Revolution Health also offers premium services that enable
companies to provide health content and customized online tools to their
employees, an insurance marketplace and CarePages www.carepages.com,
the leading service that enables communication among family and friends
when someone is receiving care. For more information go to http://www.RevolutionHealth.com.
