23 Feb 2008 03:21:20 | Ryan Paul Fyfe
West Nile virus is a new member or "emergent" to the virus of
the family. West Nile Virus is found in both tropical and
temperate regions. Because of this it is a dangerous and
world-wide killer. The Virus ainly infects birds, but also has
the ability to affect humans, horses, and some other mammals.
The Virus is spread by bites from infected mosquitoes.
In the majority of cases, eight percent, people who are infected
with the virus have none of the symptoms. In the other,
approximately twenty percent, the virus causes mild symptoms
which resemble those of the flu. These symptoms are known as
West Nile. The virus is highly capable and able to pass through
the blood-brain barrier. The most serious effects of West Nile Virus are encephalitis and
meningitis. Both of these diseases can result in death. People
that are over the age of fifty are at a greater risk of
developing the severe disease. The symptoms of which include
nausea, fever, stiff neck and changes in mental status.
Symptoms to West Nile Virus will begin to develop three to
fifteen days after the initial infection. Currently there is no
known effective treatment to the virus. West Nile can be
diagnosed by employing an ELISA test which will detect 'IgM
antibodies' that develop as a result of the virus.
The disease normally starts in an infected bird. A female
mosquito will come and bite the infected birds who than carries
the virus in her salivary glands. If she bites another bird they
will become affected with the virus, and the diease continues to
spread in that fashion.
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