West Nile Virus

[Atarius]

The Bay Area now has its first human case of West Nile virus -- a 50-year-old San Jose man.

His case was confirmed through a process of elimination as coming from a bite from an infected mosquito. The unnamed man got sick three weeks ago and was hospitalized for four days with mild symptoms including fever, headache, nausea, muscle weakness and some slowing of his thinking. He's now recuperating at home and is expected to make a full recovery. Read more at Kpix.

Q. What are the symptoms of West Nile virus (WNV) infection?
A. Infection with WNV can be asymptomtic (no symptoms), or can lead to West Nile fever or severe West Nile disease.

It is estimated that about 20% of people who become infected with WNV will develop West Nile fever. Symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness, and body aches, occasionally with a skin rash (on the trunk of the body) and swollen lymph glands. While the illness can be as short as a few days, even healthy people have reported being sick for several weeks.

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, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis. It is estimated that approximately 1 in 150 persons infected with the West Nile virus will develop a more severe form of disease. Serious illness can occur in people of any age, however people over age 50 and some immunocompromised persons (for example, transplant patients) are at the highest risk for getting severely ill when infected with WNV.

Most people (about 4 out of 5) who are infected with West Nile virus will not develop any type of illness (an asymptomatic infection), however you cannot know ahead of time if you'll get sick or not when infected. CDC

[MushroomheadXIII]

I live in Holland, is it possible I can get it?

[Atarius]

Probably not in Holloland, but nearly every state in the US has reported at least one case.

[Potato]

Excellent file sharing question.

[TwoLoud]

Excellent file sharing question.

haha, yea i think i might try it out


but the virus is around me, indiana...and couple people have gotten it..i got bit but dont have it, (yet) lol

[hawkburn]

I believe theres been about 5 people in Dallas with it this season. I don't go outside much so I haven't tried my luck yet.

[Atarius]

I was bitten around 15 times in San Jose, days before the Bay Area man had a confirmed case. I am watching for possible symptoms (incubation period is around 2-15 days). No vaccine or cure anyways, so I'll wait it out.

[YWD67]

Here in Sarasota co. Fl, we have just had our 5th confirmed case of West Nile this summer. Because of all of the above normal tropical weather we have had in the last month, the mosquito season here has been above normal as well. The people who are most likely to become extremely ill and possibly dying from this disease are children under 3, the elderly and people with weak immune systems. Dawn and dusk are the worst times to be outside down here in Fl. that is when mosquitos are most active. The best repelent I found is Deep Woods off with a 40% Deet content. I would not recomend this for a child under the age of 12 yrs old, a content of 20% or less would be better.