West Nile virus comes back

Published on August 25, 2008 2:47 AM

Researchers found that mosquito can infect people with West Nile virus. West Nile virus is a virus of the family Flaviviridae, it was found in both tropical and temperate regions. It mainly infects birds, but is known to infect humans, horses, dogs, cats, bats, chipmunks, skunks, squirrels, and domestic rabbits. The main route of human infection is through the bite of an infected mosquito.

Most people who become infected with West Nile virus can have either no symptoms or only mild ones. However, on rare occasions, West Nile virus infection can result in severe and sometimes fatal illnesses. There is no evidence to suggest that West Nile virus can be spread from person to person or from animal to person.

The West Nile virus (WNV) was first detected in the Western Hemisphere in 1999 and has since rapidly spread across the North American continent into all 48 continental states, seven Canadian provinces, and throughout Mexico.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 15,000 people in the U.S. have tested positive for WNV infection since 1999, including over 500 deaths. Many more people have likely been infected with WNV, but have experienced mild or no symptoms.

Statistically, a person's risk of contracting West Nile is low, and less than 1% of those infected develop serious illness from the virus. Those at highest risk for serious illness are the elderly and those with lowered immune systems. However, people of all ages can develop serious illness, so it is important for everyone to protect themselves from mosquito bites to minimize the risk of infection.

Today the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) reported one new human case of West Nile virus (WNV) for 2008, bringing the state's total number of WNV cases to eight. The new case is in Jones County.

Since March 2008, WNV cases have been reported in Hinds, Lincoln, Forrest, Jones and Madison counties.

Dr. Jerome Goddard, a medical entomologist with 20 years of experience in public health entomology, said: "Mosquitoes that carry the West Nile virus enter their peak reproduction season at the same time most of us are spending more time outdoors. To avoid mosquito bites take steps to protect yourself personally with the appropriate clothing and repellents and remove mosquito breeding grounds around your home."

Scientists reported that if West Nile virus enters the brain, however, it can be deadly. It may cause inflammation of the brain, called encephalitis, or inflammation of the tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, called meningitis.

Older people are most at risk. There are no specific vaccines or treatments for human WNV disease. The easiest and best way to avoid WNV is to prevent mosquito bites:

• Use insect repellent
• Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by emptying standing water from flower pots, buckets or barrels
• Stay indoors between dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active
• Use screens on windows to keep mosquitoes out