ABOUT WEST NILE VIRUS

An Unincorporated Division of the Anonymous Anything Society 7/31/2013

I KNEW ALMOST NOTHING ABOUT WEST NILE VIRUS

Something new to worry about? Well no and yes. No, if you compare the number of people who suffer and die from it to the two to three million people worldwide who die from malaria each year.

286 persons died from West Nile Virus (WNV) disease in the United States last year.

Mild symptoms are usually resolved by the immune system in a few days.

Since four out of five victims hardly know they have the malady, why be concerned about a itchy bite and a disease that is so rarely fatal?

Answer: Because of those few who fall within that twenty percent of those infected with West Nile Virus who experience protracted muscle pain, headache, fever, fatigue, swollen lymph glands, and occasionally, eye pain - sometimes for months, continued research on developing a preventative is needed.

Then there is that tiny one percent of those diagnosed with WNV who develop a serious neurological symptom - inflammation of the brain, or membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Another serious affliction, acute flaccid paralysis, resulting in a sudden weakness in the arms, legs and breathing muscles, may become permanent.

Persons who take medicines that suppress the body's immune system and the aged are those most severely affected by West Nile Virus.

Your doctor can order a blood test that will indicate whether you've WNV Antibodies. Though there is no inoculation that will prevent your contracting it, there is supportive therapy that would likely be beneficial, if you do get it.

There is every reason to believe that West Nile Virus will continue to spread as it has across the globe since it was first identified in Africa in this century - until an effective preventative medicine is found.

The majority of the cases in the U.S. have occurred between the months of July and September.

The culprit: a mosquito that has fed upon a bird infected with the virus. The incubation period - the time between when one is bitten and the appearance of symptoms, can range from three to 14 days.

Humans are dead-end victims of the virus. You can't become infected by kissing or touching a person with the virus.

Best advice: Do everything possible to eradicate mosquitoes. Empty standing water. If its a bird bath or flower pot, empty or change the water very often. Application of a light oil such as canola oil puts a film on the surface of water that kills larvae.

If the mosquito larvae have become flying insects, one chemical works best in repelling them. Mosquitoes are most active in the hours between dusk and dawn. Generously apply a liquid repellant to your skin that contains a chemical called DEET before exposing your body to the bugs. Beware of home remedies such as applying lemon juice or Listerine and consuming garlic.

I've taken note of some commercial products alleged to kill mosquitoes when sprayed on a lawn, but as far as I know, no independent research firm or government agency recommends any. I've read some enthusiastic testimonials that to me are suspect and others from disappointed users that are discouraging.

It isn't much, but now you know as much or more than I do about West Nile Virus.

73,

Phil Richardson, Observer and Storyteller

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