West Nile Virus
Date: 31 May 2022 Tags: MiscellaneousIssue
A 47-year old man from Thrissur in Kerala succumbed to the West Nile Virus. This is the first case of virus death in last 2 years in the state.
Background
The virus was first detected in the state in 2006 and then in Ernakulam in 2011.
Details
-
The West Nile Virus is a single-stranded RNA virus, spread through mosquito bite. It belongs to the Japanese Encephalitis antigenic complex of the family Flaviviridae and flavivirus genus.
-
Birds are the reservoir hosts of the virus. Mosquitoes act as principal vectors for transmission between humans and animals.
Origin
-
The virus was first isolated from humans in 1937 in the West Nile district of Uganda. It was detected in birds in the Nile delta region in 1953.
-
West Nile Virus infections occur along major bird migratory routes. It is commonly seen in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America, and West Asia.
Infection mechanism
-
When mosquitoes bite infected birds, the virus spreads in their blood and later gets into the mosquito’s salivary glands.
-
When they feed on humans and animals, the virus may be injected into humans and animals, where it can multiply and cause illness.
Spread
-
Apart from mosquito bites, the infection can spread from human to human through blood transfusion and from mother to her child.
-
It does not spread through contact with infected humans or animals. It does not spread through eating infected animals, including birds.
Symptoms
-
Initially, the disease is asymptomatic in 80% of the people. West Nile fever or severe West Nile disease develops in later stages.
-
Symptoms in infected individuals include fever, headache, fatigue, body aches, nausea, rash, and swollen glands.
Severity
-
Encephalitis, meningitis, paralysis, and even death can occur due to severe illness. One in every 150 infected individuals may develop severe form of disease.
-
Persons with co-morbidities and immuno-compromised persons (such as transplant patients) are vulnerable to the severe infection.
Prevention
-
Protection from the mosquito bites can prevent occurrence of the disease. Methods include wearing protective clothes.
-
Apart from clothing, reducing breeding sites, covering water storage containers, eliminating puddles and drainage of places can help in reducing mosquito population.