West Nile Virus

West nile fever is brought on by the single-stranded RNA virus known as the west nile virus (WNV). It belongs to the same genus as the zika virus, dengue virus, and yellow fever virus, flavivirus, and is a member of the family flaviviridae. Mosquitoes, primarily culex species, are the main vectors of the virus. The virus shares genetic ancestry with the family of viruses that cause japanese encephalitis.

Humans, birds, mosquitoes, horses, and a few other creatures can contract the west nile virus. WNV in humans cannot be treated or prevented by vaccines. Fortunately, most WNV carriers don't exhibit any symptoms. Fever and other symptoms are present in one in every five infected people.

Typical symptoms and warning indications include:

• Fatigue
• Skin rash 
• Vomiting 
• Diarrhea 
• Headache
• Body aches

A serious sickness involving the central nervous system, such as encephalitis (brain inflammation), or meningitis (inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord), affects about 1 in 150 affected individuals.

• High fever, headache, stiff neck, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness, and paralysis are some of the symptoms of severe sickness.
• Although persons of any age can get severe disease, those over 60 are more likely to do so if they contract an infection (1 in 50 people). Furthermore, people with particular medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, and organ transplant recipients, are more vulnerable.
• It may take weeks or months to fully recover from a severe illness. Some long-lasting effects could be felt on the central nervous system.
• About one in ten patients who experience serious illnesses of the central nervous system pass away.