West Nile Virus

A little but about West Nile Virus

West Nile Virus (WNV) is a virus that is transmitted through mosquito's and can become an infectious disease in some people. Being bitten by an infected mosquito is most common in the late summer to early fall months (from the end of July to September), but it is important to remember that not all mosquito's carry the infection. Although it is a very serious virus, it is rare for people to actually become sick from it. The severity of the sickness depends on the person, whether they are old, young, or have a healthy immune system. Symptoms are very rare unless the virus has begun to affect the person’s immune system, then in that case they will begin to see flu like symptoms  but still not feel that under the weather. People over the age of 50 and those with a weaker immune system (for reasons such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, or organ transplants) are at the most risk of getting the infection. 

The virus was native to Africa, the Middle East, and West Asia for years before it came to the United States in 1999, and has since firmly planted itself in the Western Hemisphere.

Although the risk of developing a serious case of the infection is very low, people should still take precaution. The media has definitely spread fear into people since it was first discovered in the United States. There are many other diseases that are spread by mosquito's that are much more harmful, but all should be cautioned. Only one in five cases of WNV show any symptoms at all, and the one of the five that does is very mild. Like the flu, the symptoms of a mild case of WNV (if detected at all) will pass on their own without any sort of treatment.