Avoiding the West Nile Virus

West Nile virus has been found for many years in the Middle East and Europe, but has just surfaced in the United States. It is generally spread between birds and mosquitoes. Humans can become ill if an infected mosquito bites them. While the chances of anyone who is infected becoming seriously ill are small, the elderly do remain at higher risk of serious illness.

The most common type of bird to become infected with the West Nile Virus are crows and blue jays. If you should find a dead crow or blue jay call your local health department immediately and do not touch the bird. The health department will collect the bird and do the appropriate tests for West Nile Infection. By tracking the spread of this virus they can target affected areas for mosquito eradication measures.

While most of those who become infected have a very mild illness, it can be quite dangerous for people over 50 years of age, and particularly for the elderly. If infected, these people may develop a severe infection involving the central nervous system - either meningitis or encephalitis, which is an inflammation of the brain or spinal cord. West Nile Virus, in its mildest form, produces an illness similar to the flu, and includes fever, malaise and body aches that last for three to five days. A more severe case would experience high fever, a headache that can be quite severe, sometimes confusion, and sometimes weakness or paralysis. There is a ten- percent mortality rate for people developing the full-blown infection.

Preventing West Nile Virus

• Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water; eliminating standing water is one way to fight the spread of this virus.
• Overgrown weeds are another breeding ground for mosquitoes and should be kept at bay.
• Mosquitoes are most active at dawn, dusk and early evening so try to avoid outdoor activities at that time.
• Wear light-colored, long-sleeved shirts and pants, as well as covered shoes with socks in mosquito-infested areas.
• Use a mosquito repellant containing DEET when outdoors and follow the package directions.
• A number of cases where patients developed West Nile Virus infection within several weeks of receiving blood products or organs have been investigated. Although persons needing blood transfusions or organ transplants should be aware of the risk for West Nile Virus infection, the benefits of receiving needed transfusions or transplants outweigh the potential risk for infection.
• Avoid situations where one is bitten frequently and repetitively if at all possible.

There is no vaccine to fight West Nile virus. Prevention, in the form of mosquito abatement is the key to staying healthy.