John P. Cunha, DO, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Cunha's educational background includes a BS in Biology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a DO from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
Severe symptoms may include stiff neck, sleepiness, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, and paralysis.
Most cases of West Nile virus are mild and go unreported.
A key feature of neuroinvasive West Nile virus disease is encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain.
The virus is carried from infected birds to people by
mosquitoes.
There is no evidence for transmission from person to person.
West Nile virus first gained attention in the U.S. in 1999
after an outbreak in New York City. Since then, outbreaks have occurred in 47 states.
Use of insect repellents may help reduce the risk of becoming infected with the West Nile virus.
What is the history of West Nile virus?
West Nile encephalitis is an infection of the brain that is caused by a virus known as the West Nile virus. First identified in Uganda in 1937, the virus is commonly found in Africa, West Asia, and the Middle East. "Encephalitis" means inflammation of the brain. One of the causes of encephalitis is viral and bacterial infections, including viral infections transmitted by mosquitoes.
West Nile virus had not been previously reported in the U.S. prior to an
outbreak in New York in September 1999. According to the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), since 1999 more than 30,000 people have
been reported with West Nile virus. More than 1,200 have died.
As of August 2012, an outbreak of 1,118 cases of West Nile virus were confirmed by the CDC. This is the highest number of reported West Nile virus cases since the virus was first detected in the U.S. in 1999. Of those, 56% of patients developed neuroinvasive disease (involvement of the brain and nervous system), the most severe form of West Nile virus infection. The CDC reports neuroinvasive disease was reported by 47 states. Approximately 75% of the cases have been reported from
five states (Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, South Dakota, and Oklahoma), and almost half of all cases have been reported from Texas, many in the Dallas area.
Picture of a Culex pipiens mosquito; SOURCE: CDC
Among all people who become infected with West Nile virus, most have mild symptoms that do not get reported. Typically, less than 1% will actually develop severe neuroinvasive disease, according to the CDC.
West Nile virus infection is also called West Nile fever or West Nile encephalitis.
Reviewed by Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD on 8/24/2012
West Nile virus infection cannot be spread by casual contact such as touching or kissing an infected person. In addition to transmission via mosquito bites, less common modes of transmission of the virus include organ transplantation, blood donation, and from mothers to their fetuses in the womb or to infants via breast milk.
Humans normally acquire the viral infection through a mosquito
bite. The early fall, from late August to early September, is the most common time for infection to occur in the U.S. West Nile virus has the potential to cause a very serious illness,
although 80% of people infected will not develop any symptoms at all. The others
(about 20% of infected people) most commonly develop a mild illness, sometimes
termed West Nile fever with symptoms of:
The word "rash" means an outbreak of red bumps on the body. The way people use this term, "a rash" can refer to many different skin conditions. The most
Lymph nodes help the body's immune system fight infections. Causes of swollen lymph nodes (glands) may include infection (viral, bacterial, fungal, parasites).
Ticks are known transmitters of disease to humans and animals. Tick-borne diseases include Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Q fever, tularemia,
Headaches can be divided into two categories: primary headaches and secondary headaches. Migraine headaches, tension headaches, and cluster headaches are
Tremor is the involuntary movements of one or more parts of the body. Causes of tremor include neurological disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, drugs,
Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 degrees F. (37 degrees C.), in practice a person is usually not considered
Insomnia is the perception or complaint of inadequate or poor-quality sleep because of difficulty falling asleep; waking up frequently during the night
Encephalitis is a brain inflammation that causes sudden fever, vomiting, headache, light sensitivity, stiff neck and back, drowsiness, and irritability.
Bug bites and stings have been known to transmit insect-borne illnesses such as West Nile virus, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Lyme disease. Though
