History of the West Nile Virus

History of the West Nile Virus

Abstract

West Nile virus (WNV) is a virus that is transmitted by mosquitoes. It has been found in humans, birds, and other animals, typically in Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. In 1999, WNV was detected in the United States for the first time, and since then it has spread across the U.S. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 15,000 people in the U.S. have tested positive for the WNV infection since 1999, including over 500 deaths. Many more people have likely been infected with WNV, but have experienced mild or no symptoms.

What is the history of the West Nile virus? West Nile virus is an emerging infectious disease that can cause encephalitis (inflammation of brain tissue) and or meningitis (swelling of the tissue that encloses the brain and spinal cord). West Nile virus is a newly emergent virus of the family Flaviviridae, found in both tropical and temperate regions. Its group is classified in Group IV (gram(+) single stranded, RNA). Its genus is Flavivirus. It?s commonly found in Africa, West Asia, the Middle East, and more recently; North America. It may result to serious illnesses if not reported to the hospital in time. Knowing its history, how it?s transmitted, symptoms, treatment, and prevention will probably keep one from getting it.

In 1937, West Nile virus was first discovered in a feverish woman in the West Nile district of Uganda in Central Africa. The virus became recognized as a cause of severe human Meningoencephalitis (inflammation of the spinal cord and brain) in elderly patients during an outbreak in Israel in 1957. In the early 1960?s, Eastern Equine Encephalitis (affecting horses) was first found in Egypt and France (We...

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... people may need to go to the hospital where they can receive supportive treatment including intravenous fluids, help with breathing, and nursing care.

To help prevent WNV: Empty plastic wading pools at least once a week or store in a position that water will drain. Make sure your backyard pool is maintained properly.

It is though that once a person has recovered from WNV, they are immune for life to future infections with WNV. This immunity may decrease over time or with health conditions that compromise the immune system. As long as people get older or immune system is weak you may end up getting it again. This is very important because just to know if people can get it again when there immunity isn?t work very good. The U.S. government and its citizens should care

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because there is no vaccine to cure it or it can mutate and get even harder to fight it off.