This is a disease spread by West Nile virus, which is mainly spread through mosquito bites.The disease was first identified in humans in Israel in 1951, since then it has spread globally It does not show any initial symptoms but can lead to serious neurological complications.
New viruses always knock in Kerala and then new diseases start spreading. This time the new disease is West Nile Virus (WNV), which has been spreading in foreign countries till now but now it has made many people sick in Kerala. There are reports of people suffering from it in three districts of the state and one person has died.
Kerala is a state in the country where new virus infections keep on happening. Many reasons are given for this, one of them is that due to its location on the sea coast, people come and go by sea ships, whereas the people of Kerala live outside on a large scale and their movement also remains constant in the state. However, on a large scale, birds also carry the virus to the geographical areas living near the sea. The contribution of birds in this matter can be said to be true to a great extent.
Question – What is West Nile virus?
– West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne virus. It is called a flavivirus, and is said to be related to the viruses that cause Japanese encephalitis and yellow fever. West Nile fever is not contagious between humans but is spread primarily through mosquito bites.
Question – How does West Nile virus spread?
– Mosquitoes of Culex species act as the main carriers in its spread. Mosquitoes causing infection spread this virus among humans and animals including birds and make them sick.
Question – How does this disease spread?
– When mosquitoes eat infected birds, they themselves get infected and this virus first comes inside the mosquitoes and then from there enters the salivary glands of the mosquito. It is not yet known whether it spreads through contact with infected humans or animals.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is not spread “by eating infected animals, including birds.”
Question – What are the symptoms of this disease?
– This disease is symptomless in 80 percent of infected people. In 20 percent people, it gives symptoms like fever, headache, fatigue, body ache, nausea, rash and swelling. About 1 in 150 people infected with West Nile virus can become seriously ill from this disease. It may take several weeks or months to recover from this. After contracting this disease, it can leave a permanent impact on the central nervous system. However, the mortality rate of people suffering from this virus is lower compared to Japanese encephalitis.
In rare cases, this virus can lead to serious neurological complications such as encephalitis and meningitis, which can be fatal.
is (Wiki Commons)
Question – What is the treatment for West Nile virus disease?
Although no vaccine can be made for it yet, supportive treatments are given. In this, it is advised to take those measures so that mosquitoes neither come near nor breed.
Question – Why is it called West Nile virus?
– This virus was first seen in a woman in the West Nile district of Uganda in 1937. It was also identified in birds (crows and Columbiformes such as pigeons and doves) in 1953 in the Nile Delta region. In 1997, various birds were seen dying due to this in Israel.
In 1999, the WMV strain arrived in New York from Israel and Tunisia. This caused a large outbreak that spread throughout the United States and Canada to Venezuela.
Question – Does this mean that this virus is usually brought by birds only?
– Yes, this is correct to a large extent. Outbreaks of WNV occur along major bird migration routes. Currently this virus is found in Africa, Europe, Middle East, North America and West Asia. This virus has spread through more than 300 birds.
Question – Has this virus come to India for the first time or has it come before also?
– In India, antibodies against WNV were first detected in humans in Mumbai in 1952. Then this virus activity was reported in Southern, Central and Western India. There were reports of its infection in the last few years.
Question – What steps can be taken to prevent it?
– Reducing mosquito population, using insect repellents, wearing protective clothing and avoiding accumulation of water where mosquitoes breed.
Tags: Fever, health, Kerala, Viral Fever
FIRST PUBLISHED: May 10, 2024, 14:38 IST