Treatment for WNV

As of now, there is not a real set in stone treatment for those who are diagnosed with the West Nile Virus. There have been studies done in hopes of finding a cure for it. Scientists have found that if a young person is bitten and infected with by West Nile, they do not show really any symptoms nor do they get sick and have to be hospitalized and treated. "Advanced age is the most important risk factor for death, and patients older than 70 years of age are at particularly high risk"(Petersen). Elderly people are much more common to get very sick from West Nile and some cases can be fatal because their immune systems are not as strong as a young persons, therefore they cannot fight off infections easily. Studies have shown that there is perhaps a possible cure for West Nile, which is human intravenous immunoglobulin. A study has shown, "In Israel in 2002, a women with chronic lymphocytic leukemia who was comatose as a result of West Nile encephalitis recovered after treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin" (Agrawal). Along with the intravenous immunoglobulin, there are many other ways scientists are testing to see if they will be effective in a cure for West Nile, but so far none have been consistent. After testing mice in a lab, scientists have found out that many of these possible methods of a cure are only effective if the infected mice are treated with the anti-body within 2-3 days of the time of infection. The results of the death rate in mice went up to only 50% of survival after day 4. Since there is no consistent cure for the West Nile, they are still searching long and hard for a new breakthrough to come to surface to hopefully keep more patients safe and save them from possible death from the virus.



Agrawal, Amy G. "The Journal of Infectious Diseases." Human Immunoglobulin as a Treatment for West Nile Virus     Infection. N.p., 23 June 2003. Web. 07 Dec. 2012.
Petersen, Lyle R., and Anthony A. Marfin. "West Nile Virus: A Primer for the Clinician."Annals.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Dec. 2012.