New Delhi. Corona virus had created a lot of uproar in Kerala. Now many patients suffering from West Nile virus have been found in Kerala. Kerala government has also issued an alert against this virus in 3 districts. In the year 2011 also, West Nile virus patients were found in Kerala. So it becomes important to know what West Nile virus is and how much danger it poses to humans.
West Nile virus was first detected in the West Nile district of Uganda in 1937. Many of its patients were found in Israel in the 1950s and it was given the status of an epidemic. There is no vaccine yet against West Nile virus. This disease is spread through Culex mosquitoes. In such a situation, protection from mosquitoes is the only way to avoid West Nile virus. Female Cx and Pipiens mosquitoes also play a big role in the spread of West Nile virus. The reason for this is that these mosquitoes are special carriers of West Nile virus. West Nile virus is carried in birds and when mosquitoes suck their blood, they carry the virus. When these mosquitoes suck human blood, West Nile virus reaches their body.
West Nile virus does not spread to humans only through mosquitoes. West Nile virus can be spread from one person to another through blood transfusion of an infected person, through mother’s milk and through organ transplant. West Nile virus causes fever, headache, fatigue, vomiting, body rashes and swollen lymph nodes. There is a possibility of death of 1 out of every 10 patients suffering from this virus. West Nile virus has been found to be especially dangerous for the elderly.