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West Nile Virus and You
Every time you turn on the news
these days, you see a somber anchor discussing the latest
outbreak of the West Nile virus. It has been reported in
roughly the eastern three quarters of the US and is
working its way west.
The virus was first detected in
the US in the summer of 1999 but researchers at the Center
for Disease Control (http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/q&a.htm)
in Atlanta, GA think it may have been around earlier. It’s
commonly found in people, birds and other animals in
Africa, Eastern Europe, West Asia, and the Middle East.
Researchers aren’t sure where the
U.S. virus originated, but it’s most closely related
genetically to strains found in the Middle East. This
should not be construed as a form of biological welfare.
The symptoms of the West Nile
virus are usually mild and include fever, headache,
and body aches, sometimes with skin rash and swollen lymph
glands.
Essentially, victims with mild
symptoms will think they have a summer cold.
Severe symptoms include headache,
high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma,
tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, paralysis, and in
rare instances, death. Infected mosquitoes pass on the
virus; there have been no recorded cases of
person-to-person, animal-to-animal, or animal-to-person
transmission.
These statistics are frightening
and sensationalized stories do nothing to help. It’s
reminiscent of the early days of the AIDS epidemic, when
some were afraid a mosquito would bite an infected person
and then pass the virus to a healthy person by biting.
Fortunately, your chances of getting the West Nile virus
are very small. Less than 1% of people who contract the
virus will develop severe symptoms. Only 3 to 15% of that
number will contract a fatal case. The odds are highest
for elderly people. If a pregnant woman is diagnosed with
the virus, there’s no documented evidence that the fetus
will be at risk.
If your child exhibits flu-like
symptoms, you shouldn’t automatically assume it’s the West
Nile virus, even if you live in an infected area. If
you’re concerned, call your pediatrician. If your child
exhibits any of the serious symptoms, call immediately.
Your pediatrician can take a blood sample and sent it to a
lab for testing. There is no vaccination for humans yet,
although one has been developed recently for horses.
There’s no specific treatment for the virus.
Hospitalization is mandatory for severe cases and
treatment includes giving intravenous fluids, using a
ventilator and preventing secondary infections such as
pneumonia.
Fortunately, there are things you
can do. The CDC offers these suggestions:
- Stay indoors at dawn, dusk,
and in the early evening.
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and
long pants whenever you are outdoors.
- Spray clothing with repellents
containing permethrin or DEET since mosquitoes may bite
through thin clothing.
- Apply insect repellent
sparingly to exposed skin. An effective repellent will
contain 35% DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide). DEET in
high concentrations (greater than 35%) provides no
additional protection....However, the American Academy
of Pediatrics recommends that repellants used on
children should have no more than 10% DEET and
repellants should not be used on babies. Discuss options
for infants with your pediatrician.
- Repellents may irritate the
eyes and mouth, so avoid applying repellent to the hands
of children.
- Install or repair window and
door screens so that mosquitoes cannot get indoors.
- Note: Vitamin B and
"ultrasonic" devices are NOT effective in preventing
mosquito bites.
The West Nile virus is making its
way across the U.S. and will probably continue as a warm
weather health threat for several years to come. Of course
it’s frightening that people are dying from this, but
remember that more people have died in the recent flooding
in Germany than from West Nile in the US. More people die
every day from car accidents, accidental gunshots and
smoking.
As with any medical condition,
don’t rely on the media for information.
Talk to your child’s pediatrician
and get the facts. Take a few simple precautions and you
and your kids will enjoy summer – or what’s left of it.
Links:
Center for Disease Control (
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/q&a.htm
)
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