West Nile Virus Outbreak
By Judy Parsons
Who knew a little mosquito could make someone so sick. One little bite could change their life. This is what has happened to several people in Southwest Kansas and many more in the middle of the United States.
West Nile Virus is mainly transmitted when a mosquito takes a blood meal from an infected bird and then feeds on a human (or other animals such as a horse), transmitting the virus. The incubation period is typically 2 to 6 days but can range from 2 to 14 days.
Most people (8 out of 10) infected with the West Nile Virus do not develop any symptoms. About 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever with other symptoms such as headaches, body aches, and other minor symptoms but recover completely with some fatigue and weakness for a few weeks or months. People with immune deficiencies and over the age of 60 are at greater risk of developing severe illness if they are infected (1 in 50 people). Symptoms of severe illness include coma, stupor, high fever, headache, neck stiffness, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness, and paralysis. Symptoms can resemble those of a stroke, encephalitis, and meningitis. Recovery from severe illness might take several weeks or months. Some effects on the central nervous system might be permanent. About 1 out of 10 people who develop severe illness affecting the central nervous system die. My family member who is over 60 and has an immune deficiency disease battled several symptoms starting with stupor, fever and disorientation to headaches, neck stiffness, achy joints and muscle weakness.
Diagnosis of West Nile Virus is based on signs and symptoms, exposure to mosquitos that can carry the Virus and laboratory testing of blood and spinal fluid. My family member went through numerous blood testing, CT and MRI scans and a spinal fluid tap to get a definite diagnosis and rule out other diseases such as meningitis and encephalitis.
After a definite diagnosis, there is very little treatment available. There is no vaccine or specific medications to treat West Nile Virus. All they could do for my family member was to care for him by letting him rest, giving IV fluids when needed and over the counter pain medications to relieve some of the achy symptoms. He was hospitalized for several weeks and then moved to rehab for physical, occupational and speech therapies. He worked hard with his therapist and was released to go home after 10 weeks in medical facilities. He still has to regain his strength and is one of the fortunate victims who recovered rather quickly compared to others.
Prevention of West Nile Virus depends on mosquito control. Communities and home owners can reduce mosquito populations by spraying and reducing mosquito breeding sites. Personal protective measures include use of mosquito repellents, wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants and limiting outdoor exposure from dusk to dawn.
Some 2023 West Nile Virus statistics (through October 2023) that I found interesting are:
Human Disease Cases in the United States – 2,073
Cases in Kansas – 57
Counties in SW Kansas:
Finney – 2
Ford – 1
Grant – 4
Gray – 4
Hamilton – 1
Lane – 1
Meade – 3
Morton – 1
Ness – 2
Stanton – 1
Stevens – 1
Cases in neighboring states:
Colorado – 584
Missouri – 26
Nebraska – 147
Oklahoma – 41
West Nile Virus is a serious disease that is somewhat difficult to diagnose and can be very serious for some people. So when summer comes be prepared to protect yourself from West Nile Virus and avoid getting sick especially if you are in one of the vulnerable populations. The Centers for Disease Control website has more information on West Nile Viruses.
Source used: CDC-Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention website – https://www.cdc.gov/westnile/index.html.
