West Nile Virus causing panic in America
The Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of U.S. confirmed the first case of a human contracting West Nile virus in Washington state, the state Health Department said Wednesday.
Considering the different parts of United States, the virus is transforming its reach to a higher order, probably we'd get to face another epidemic in the coming years.
The spread of the virus is spreading across the United States like fire, as determined from surveillance of infected birds by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Since the initial 1999 New York City outbreak, the cases of West Nile Virus have been relatively limited.
In 2002, there were a total of 480 reported cases in humans and 24 deaths (as of August 28, 2002). The virus spread to Florida, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. Cases are also being seen in the Dakotas, Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming, states along the east coast.
The death count after 2002 was controlled majorly, until recently it accelerated and portrayed a dreadful image of future.
West Nile virus is transmitted to humans by a mosquito bite. Mosquitoes become infected by biting birds that harbor the virus.
The virus is not spread from person to person or from infected birds to humans without a mosquito bite. The virus has now been found in 111 bird species existing in and around U.S.
The virus can cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord).
The news coming on to us in the month of September is because of the fact that most cases of West Nile occur during the warm weather months. Nonetheless, the mild climate in southern states is sustainable for the mosquitoes, at least in U.S. region.
It has been observed that people who are infected with the virus and become ill will have a mild illness that may include fever, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting or a skin rash.
Sometimes people develop a severe illness of the nervous system that can include anything from neck stiffness to tremors, with severe muscle pain.
Most people fully recover. In others, particularly the elderly, the disease can progress to cause encephalitis or meningitis.
Recently it has been found that using an insect repellent containing 10-30% DEET solution and fogging suffices any chance to nourish the virus.
The American government seems to be pretty alert and working hard to revitalize the catastrophic situation.
