What is West Nile Fever?

About West Nile Fever:

• It is a disease caused by the West Nile Virus (WNV).

• WNV is a member of the flavivirus genus and belongs to the Japanese encephalitis antigenic complex of the family Flaviviridae.
• Birds are the natural hosts of WNV. The virus is commonly found in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America, and West Asia.

• It can cause a deadly neurological disease in humans. 
• It is named after the West Nile district of Uganda, where it was first identified in 1937.
• Transmission: 
• It is most commonly spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. The mosquitoes get the virus when they bite an infected bird.

• There is no evidence that WNV can be spread directly from one person to another.

• But there have been a few cases where it has spread through organ transplants.

• Symptoms: 

• Most people infected by the virus are asymptomatic (no symptoms). 
• Symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness, body aches, nausea, vomiting, occasional skin rash, and swollen lymph glands.
• The symptoms of severe disease (also called neuroinvasive disease, such as West Nile encephalitis or meningitis or West Nile poliomyelitis) include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor (near-unconsciousness), disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis.

• Treatment: 

• There is no medicine or vaccine available against the WNV.
• Treatment is based on supportive care involving hospitalisation, intravenous fluids, respiratory support, and prevention of secondary infections.