west nile virus…

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mosquito, adult feeding on the skin, mosquito, adult, mosquito, egg raft, mosquito, pupa, meninges, the brain, west nile virus is transmitted by mosquitos, an illness that ranges from mild to severe, flu-like illness, west nile fever, severe forms of disease, life-threatening, west nile encephalitis, west nile meningitis, depending on where it spreads, west nile virus, type of organism, a flavivirus, similar to many other mosquito-borne viruses, japanese encephalitis, is found in asia, researchers believe the virus is spread, a mosquito bites an infected bird, bites a person, west nile virus was first identified in 1937, in the west nile region of uganda, in eastern africa, was first identified, in the us, in the summer of 1999, in the queens borough of new york, ny, caused 62 cases of encephalitis, 7 deaths that summer, 1999 the virus has spread throughout the continental us, of july 2004 has been identified in 46 states, mosquitos carry the highest amounts of virus, in the early fall, peak of disease in late august-early september, risk of disease then decreases, the weather becomes colder, mosquitos die off, bitten by mosquitos that carry west nile virus, not know they've been exposed, few people develop severe disease, symptoms at, data, outbreak in queens suggests that although 2.6%, the population was infected, 1 in 5 infected people developed mild illness, 1 in 150 infected people developed brain inflammation, meningitis, encephalitis, risk factors, developing a worse form, the disease likely, conditions that suppress the immune system, recent chemotherapy, recent organ transplantation, hiv, pregnancy, older age, west nile virus, spread, blood transfusions, organ transplantation, an infected mother to transmit the virus to her child via breast milk, mild disease, generally, west nile fever, has some, fever, headache, back pain, muscle aches, lack of appetite, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, last, 3 to 6 days, more severe disease, following symptoms, require prompt attention, muscle weakness, stiff neck, confusion, change in clarity of thinking, loss of consciousness, signs of west nile virus infection, similar to those of other viral infections, nothing, found on physical examination to diagnose west nile virus infection, a rash is present in 20-50% of patients, true muscle weakness, related symptoms is suggestive of west nile virus infection, diagnostic tests that used, west nile virus is suspected, cbc, a normal, elevated white blood cell, wbc, count, lumbar puncture, cerebrospinal fluid, csf, testing, shows elevated wbc count, lymphocytes, shows elevated protein level, head ct scan, head mri scan, evidence of inflammation, one-third of patients, most accurate way to diagnose this infection is serology, a test to detect, antibodies against west nile virus in csf, serum, a blood component, considered the gold standard, diagnosis, a sample of blood, csf sent to a lab to be cultured to evaluate, west nile virus, virus, identified in body fluids using a technique, polymerase chain reaction, pcr, provide false negative results, illness, bacteria, antibiotics, not help treat west nile virus infection, standard hospital care, help decrease the risk of complications in severe illness, no human vaccine available at present, likely there, not be one, several years, research trials, under way, whether ribavirin, an antiviral drug, treat hepatitis c, likely outcome of a mild west nile virus infection is excellent, patients, severe cases of west nile virus infection, outlook is more guarded, west nile encephalitis, meningitis has the potential to lead to brain damage, death, 10% of patients, brain inflammation, not survive, complications from mild west nile virus infection, extremely rare, complications from severe west nile virus infection include permanent brain damage, muscle weakness, similar to polio, death, have any, the symptoms of west nile virus infection, contact, mosquitos, severely ill, seek attention in an emergency room, have been bitten, infected mosquito, no treatment to avoid development of west nile virus infection, people in good general health generally, not develop a serious illness, bitten, infected mosquito, prevent west nile virus infection, avoid mosquito bites, using mosquito-repellant products containing deet, wearing long sleeves, pants, the most effective way to avoid bites, community spraying, mosquitos, prevent mosquito breeding, mosquitos breed in stagnant water, pools of standing water, in small areas trash bins, plant saucers, drain them promptly, testing of donated blood, organs is currently evaluated, no guidelines at present.