Introduction to West Nile Virus

The first case of West Nile Virus was in 1937 in Uganda, Africa, and since then the virus has spread to countries all around the world. West Nile is a virus that is most commonly spread through the bite of a mosquito that carries this virus. The way that mosquitos are infected is by biting a bird that carries the infection, resulting in them now beginning to be a transmitter. There are two lineages of West Nile Virus. Lineage I, is the one that is most susceptible to humans encountering. In fact, all of the cases of infected people in North America have been related to lineage I. Lineage II is in enzootic foci in Africa where there have been no reported outbreaks as of June 15, 2004. Although one lineage may be more viral and threatening to human infection, both lineages are neuroinvasive.

Most of those who are bitten and infected with the virus are asymptomatic, meaning they do not produce any symptoms of being ill. Those who do show symptoms are often described as flu-like. The incubation period of the virus developing in the infected body can vary between 3 and 14 days. Symptoms will occur from about 3 to 6 days. Symptoms may also include headaches, fever, chills, and backache. Those who experience these symptoms should seek medical attention and be tested. Patients may not test positive for this until weeks after being infected and showing symptoms.

There is no treatment of West Nile Virus to cure patients. There are only ways to reduce symptoms and prevent further infection. A vaccine is being developed to help prevent to virus from infecting humans. Recently, there have been cities that have had high infection rates that do a ariel spray to help prevent infection.

Lewis, Mark; Bulletin of Mathematical Biology; Jan2006, Vol. 68 Issue 1, p3-23, 21p, 3 Graphs; Traveling Waves and Spread Rates for a West Nile Virus Model.;http://ezp.tccd.edu:2134/ehost/detail?vid=10&hid=10&sid=4aaa9d61-29bd-4128-87ff-912c72a0c5bd%40sessionmgr11&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=syh&AN=28463816

American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy; West Nile virus infection; 6/15/2004, Vol. 61 Issue 12, p1235-1241, 7p. http://ezp.tccd.edu:2134/ehost/detail?vid=7&hid=10&sid=4aaa9d61-29bd-4128-87ff-912c72a0c5bd%40sessionmgr11&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=syh&AN=13383668