Welcome!
If you have accessed
this page you are probably concerned about the recent find of the West Nile
virus in Waddington. I have gone to the
CDC website and pulled up pertinent information about the subject. From what I can gather its something we need
to be aware of but given the statistics and our current dry spell we need not
panic. If I can be of any other
assistance please feel free to contact me.
West Nile virus is a flavivirus commonly found in Africa, West Asia, and the Middle East. It is closely related to St. Louis encephalitis virus found in the United States. The virus can infect humans, birds, mosquitoes, horses and some other mammals.
West Nile fever is a case of mild disease in people, characterized by flulike symptoms. West Nile fever typically lasts only a few days and does not appear to cause any long-term health effects.
More severe disease due to a person being infected with this virus can be West Nile encephalitis, West Nile meningitis, or West Nile meningoencephalitis. Encephalitis refers to an inflammation of the brain, meningitis is an inflammation of the membrane around the brain and the spinal cord, and meningoencephalitis refers to inflammation of the brain and the membrane surrounding it.
See also: Symptoms of
West Nile Virus
Who's at Risk
Q. Who is at risk for
getting West Nile encephalitis?
A. All residents of
areas where virus activity has been identified are at risk of getting West Nile
encephalitis; persons over 50 years of age have the highest risk of severe
disease. There is no clear link between the level of a person's overall health
and their risk of getting severe disease. For example, it is unknown if
immunocompromised persons are a higher risk risk for the severe types of West
Nile virus-related disease. This topic is under investigation by CDC
scientists.
Prevention:
Avoid Mosquito Bites to Avoid Infection
Human illness from West Nile virus is rare, even in areas where the virus has been reported. The chance that any one person is going to become ill from a mosquito bite is low.
You can further reduce your chances of becoming ill by protecting yourself from mosquito bites. To avoid mosquito bites:
- Apply insect repellent containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) when you're outdoors.
- When possible, wear long-sleeved clothes and long pants treated with repellents
- Consider staying indoors at dawn, dusk, and in the early evening, which are peak mosquito biting times.
- Limit the number of places
available for mosquitos to lay their eggs by eliminating standing water
sources from around your home
About the Virus, the Disease, and Its Spread
West Nile virus is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito, and can infect people, horses, many types of birds, and some other animals.
Most people who become infected with West Nile virus will 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.
Brochures and Other
Print Materials
West Nile Virus
Brochure
Designed for distribution to the general public, this brochure teaches
readers about West Nile virus and West Nile encephalitis, and offers tips and
strategies for avoiding mosquito bites. 4-color, trifold. Published August 2002
Presentations
from the Third National Planning Meeting for the Surveillance, Prevention, and
Control of West Nile Virus in the United States (March 22-23, 2002)
Presentation topics include: surveillance, virology, vector management
programs and West Nile virus responses, laboratory diagnosis, and plenary
sessions
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