West Nile Virus: 101

West Nile Virus: What You ProbablyDon’t Know

Whilethe West Nile Virus has had considerable coverage in the news media lately,many are under-informed on the subject.

Mostpeople know only two main facts about West Nile Virus: it can kill you and it’sspread by mosquitoes. While both are true, understanding more about the WestNile Virus can help you protect yourself and your loved ones from it.

Afact most don’t know is West Nile Virus effects humans in three different ways.

West Nile Virus Effect One

Thefirst effect is an asymptomatic infection, which means the person has thevirus, but does not display any symptoms. Since they experience no symptoms,they usually aren’t aware they have West Nile Virus. Although this effect iseasiest on the carrier, it is most dangerous to the general population, sincethe carrier could infect others. Infection passed from human to human occursthrough exposure to infected blood. Common human-to-human infection occurs fromblood transfusions, organ transplants, mother to fetus transmission, andbreast-feeding. 

West Nile Virus Effect Two

Themost commonly experienced effect is the mild fever, coined the West Nile Fever.This effect has an incubation period of 2 to 8 days, which means 2 to 8 dayspass from time of infection until symptoms are experienced. When symptoms dopresent, it’s usually fever, headache, chills, excessive sweating, weakness,swollen lymph nodes, drowsiness, and joint pains, all which are similar to thecommon flu. Some may experience a truncal rash for a short period of time.Others may experience gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, lossof appetite or diarrhea. All symptoms resolve within 7 to 10 days, with theexception of fatigue and swollen lymphnodes, which can take up to two months tosubside.

West Nile Virus Effect Three

Thethird effect is the most serious. It is encephalitis (acute inflammation of thebrain) or meningitis (inflammation of the protective membranes covering thebrain and spinal cord). The early symptoms of this effect are similar to thoseof the mild fever effect. However, there is a decreased level of consciousness.This can be a near-coma level of consciousness. In the beginning, deep tendonreflexes are hyperactive but later become diminished. Symptoms also includemovement disorders, such as spasms, convulsions, and slow movement. While thosesuffering with this effect of West Nile Virus can recover, it is a long processand the sufferer experiences continued fatigue. In rare cases, encephalitiscaused by an atypical case of West Nile Virus presented as jaw pain. Those mostlikely to experience this most severe form of West Nile Virus are older people,those who’ve had an organ transplantation, and those with diabetes.

Ifone becomes infected, the treatment is not to cure, but rather ease thesymptoms for the sufferer.

How to Protect Yourself and Your FamilyFrom West Nile Virus

Thebest way to not get infected is to avoid mosquito bites. Below is a list ofcommon ways to avoid the danger of mosquito bites and reduce your chance ofexposure to the West Nile Virus. 

• Remain indoors at dawn and dusk, the most active period for mosquitoes
  
  
  
• Keep mosquitoes out of your house by fixing all holes in screens and keeping doors and windows shut
  

• Wear light-colored clothing
  
  
  
• Keep your arms, legs, and abdomen covered
  
  
  
• Use insect repellents on your skin, such as DEET
  
  
  
• Treat clothing and bedding with Permethrin, which kills mosquitoes
  
  
  
• Avoid areas with standing water or dense forests
  
  
  
• Eliminate mosquito breeding grounds in your area. This includes even a small amount of water, such as standing water in a saucer under a flowerpot.
  

West Nile Virus: Your Best Defense

The best defense againstWest Nile Virus is reducing the mosquito population. This will reduce yourchance of being bitten.

There are two ways toreduce the population: breeding ground removal and breeding cycle interruption.

As mentioned above,mosquitoes require very little water in which to breed. The size of the watersource is not as important as the fact it is not moving. It’s recommended youtake extra steps to ensure there is no standing water on your property, evensmall amounts.

For example, twice a weekat least, drain all standing water from pool covers, flowerpot saucers, trashcans, and recycle bins. Remove any unused items from your yard, such as tires,which have a tendency to collect water. Change all water supplies, includingwading pools, pet bowls, and birdbaths, twice a week. Prevent clogs that couldtrap water by keeping rain gutters, downspouts and eavestroughs free from debris. If youhave rain barrels, cover them with screens. Finally, if you have an ornamentalpond on your property, be sure to install an aerator. This will keep the watermoving, making it impossible for the mosquitoes to lay their eggs in it.

While ensuring there is no standingwater on your property is vital, this course of action works best if everyonein your community does the same. Mosquitoes can travel several miles from theirbreeding ground. Although you’re doing your part for the safety of your familyand others from the West Nile Virus, a property owner down the street couldhave a mosquito breeding haven in his backyard. Another difficulty witheliminating standing water is larger bodies, such as swamps, ditches, andslow-moving streams, require community-wide efforts and public resources toeliminate.

The other most effectiveway to protect your family from West Nile Virus is by interrupting the breedingcycle of the mosquitoes. There are effectivemosquito traps on the market today that do just that.

By emanating a steady stream of CO2, along with an attractant, mosquitoesare drawn to the trap and away from you and your family. Once near the trap,they are captured by a vacuum and sucked into a net, where they dehydrate anddie. These traps run continuously to interrupt the breeding cycle. The numberof mosquitoes in the area is greatly reduced. Covering an area of up to 1 acre,the mosquito traps can reduce the chances of mosquito bites for an entireseason long.