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Nile Virus Survivors Foundation
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The virus in humans was first described in Uganda in 1937. The infected woman was a resident of the "West Nile District" of the state, hence the naming of the virus. The virus appeared in the United States in New York City in 1999. That year, West Nile Virus killed seven, hospitalized 55 and infected more than 1,900 in the Northern Queens area of New York (Despommier 2001). In 2002, the United States recorded the largest ever reported outbreak of West Nile Viral encephalitis, killing 284 people across the nation (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2005). There have been numerous epidemics of the West Nile virus occurring throughout the world including, Africa, Israel in 1998 and 2000, Italy in 1998, France in 1968 and 2000, Czech Republic in 1997-98, Romainia in 1996, 1997, Russia in 1999, 2000 and in India (Despommier 2001). On August 12, 1999 an otherwise healthy 60 year old man was admitted to Flushing Hospital Medical Center in Queens, New York, with a 104F degree temperature. Six more cases followed. None of these seven cases survived the virus (Express Newsline Interactive 2005). Other reports included cases of 22 infected horses on Long Island, thirteen of which died. The Bronx Zoo lost 27 captive birds. Over 10,000 crows and free-flying birds had succumbed to West Nile Virus (WNV).After this disastrous effect of the virus, the government became conscious and whole city was alerted. The city and the Centers for Disease Control began a wide range spraying, (via helicopter and truck) of Malathion, an organic pesticide, which attacks the nervous systems of flying insects and fish. This was supposed to arrest the propagation of infected mosquitoes, but it did not. Agencies began to find the cause of the infection and found that infected bird or birds, illegally entering the United States are believed to be the origin of the WNV in the NYC area. The cycle of outbreak begins with the infected bird. When a mosquito pierces the skin of a victim, to get blood, it draws up the virus. Then upon repeating this process with yet another victim, it's saliva, containing the virus, immediately flows into the puncture. The WNV is then passed on. Though the CDC states that the virus usually runs it's course in most people with little or no effects, the elderly and the very young are most susceptible, as their immune systems are either immature or depressed. This virus was first isolated in Uganda's West Nile Province in 1937...hence, the name. It has since been responsible for epidemics in South Africa, Algeria, France, Romania and last year killed 50 in Russia. Of 450 reported cases of viral meningitis in Bucharest, Romania in July of 2000, 89% were confirmed as the WNV. As more and more reports came in of sick and dying crows, the S.P.C.A.'s and various departments of health began testing sick and dying birds in various cities and states, to find the source of this sudden phenomenon. The CDC was called in for a final verdict, and sure enough...it was confirmed. West Nile Virus. The slowness of detection and confirmation of the virus, could be attributed to the only method of testing available, which took up to four days for results. Due to the onslaught of suspected infection, a new technique called real-time polymerase chain reaction was developed. This is a virus specific test, able to detect the most minute amounts of WNV in cerebrospinal fluid within 5 hours. On April 26, 2000 CNN reported that 17 states, Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia, received $2.7 million to create surveillance programs for detecting areas where this virus could propagate. It is feared that birds heading South for the Winter, will carry the WNV to areas not yet effected. It is also apparent that there has to be a grand scale effort to curb this epidemic around the world. Subsequently, the Centers for Disease Control has called for global surveillance of this virus. The West Nile Virus Survivors Foundation is founded by survivors and their families to assist and help victims, survivors and others cope with the effects and sequella of the viral infection.. FAQ (CDC Text) Symptoms of West Nile Virus Updated! 8/16/2004 Q. What are the symptoms of West Nile virus (WNV) infection? 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. Q. What is the incubation period in humans (i.e., time from infection
to onset of disease symptoms) for West Nile disease? Q. How long do symptoms last? Q. What is meant by West Nile encephalitis, West Nile meningitis, West
Nile poliomyelitis, “neuroinvasive disease” and West Nile
fever? West Nile Fever is another type of illness that can occur in people who become infected with the virus. It is characterized by fever, headache, tiredness, aches and sometimes rash. Although the illness can be as short as a few days, even healthy people have been sick for several weeks. Q. If I have West Nile Fever, can it turn into West Nile encephalitis? West Nile fever is characterized by symptoms such as fever, body aches, headache and sometimes swollen lymph glands and rash. West Nile fever generally lasts only a few days, though in some cases symptoms have been reported to last longer, even up to several weeks. West Nile fever does not appear to cause any permanent health effects. There is no specific treatment for WNV infection. People with West Nile fever recover on their own, though symptoms can be relieved through various treatments (such as medication for headache and body aches, etc.). Some people may develop a brief, WNF-like illness (early symptoms) before they develop more severe disease, though the percentage of patients in whom this occurs is not known. Occasionally, an infected person may develop more severe disease such as “West Nile encephalitis,” “West Nile meningitis” or “West Nile meningoencephalitis.” Encephalitis refers to an inflammation of the brain, meningitis is an inflammation of the membrane around the brain and the spinal cord, and meningoencephalitis refers to inflammation of the brain and the membrane surrounding it. Although there is no treatment for WNV infection itself, the person with severe disease often needs to be hospitalized. Care may involve nursing IV fluids, respiratory support, and prevention of secondary infections. Q. How is West Nile encephalitis treated? Q. I think I have symptoms of West Nile virus. What should I do? Thanks for visiting the West Nile Virus Survivors Foundation at www.westnilesurvivor.com. Survivors of the virus, encephalitis and meningitis as well as family of victims and friends of survivors are gathering here to continue the battle against West Nile Virus. Our mission is to help others survive.
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