Facts of the west nile virus

Vaccinate your horse in spring, before the onset of mosquito season, to offer your horse the best protection available against West Nile virus. The vaccines , regardless of brand, will booster the protection.

Remember, vaccination in conjunction with established mosquito management techniques are key to helping keep animals safe from this dangerous disease. Most persons infected with this virus show no symptoms, although occasional infections can result in serious illness and even death. West Nile virus has been commonly found in humans, birds, and other animals in Africa, Eastern Europe, Western Asia, and the Middle East, but until had not previously been documented in the Western Hemisphere.

The U. Most people infected with this virus do not have any symptoms. Some people experience a mild illness characterized by slight fever, headache, body aches, skin rash, and swollen lymph nodes.

More severe illness can include encephalitis inflammation of the brain and is marked by a rapid onset of a high fever, head and body aches, neck stiffness, muscle weakness, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, and in the most severe cases, death. There is no evidence that pregnant women are at increased risk due to West Nile virus infection. The West Nile virus, like most mosquito borne viruses, is found in wild and domestic birds. When a mosquito feeds on an infected bird, it can pick up the virus and transmit it to other, non infected birds.

Occasionally, infective mosquitoes will feed on mammals such as horses, dogs, cats, and humans, and transmit the virus to them. The chances you will become severely ill from any one mosquito bite are extremely small. There is no evidence that a person can get the virus from handling live or dead infected birds.

However, persons should avoid barehanded contact with any dead animals and use gloves or double plastic bags to place the carcass in a garbage can. West Nile virus infection is not transmitted from person to person.

For example, you cannot get the virus from touching or kissing a person who has the disease, or from a health care worker who has treated someone with the disease. It is not necessary to limit any outdoor activities.

However, you can and should try to reduce your risk of being bitten by mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk. Reducing the mosquito population around your home and property can be accomplished by eliminating standing water:. There is no specific treatment for WNV. Health care providers will usually attempt to relieve the symptoms of the illness.

In severe cases, patients may need to be hospitalized and closely monitored. Currently there is no West Nile virus vaccine available for humans.

It is likely that people with past infection of West Nile virus will be protected from getting the disease again. Pets occasionally get WNV from mosquito bites, but very rarely get sick. Horses are more susceptible to serious illness from WNV than are dogs and cats; however, a vaccine is available for horses.

Natural infection of a pet by contacting or eating an infected dead bird has not been documented. Protecting yourself from mosquito bites will help prevent the spread of WNV. Use of repellents may be helpful in minimizing exposure. To minimize exposed skin, people spending time outdoors in mosquito-infested areas can use insect repellents containing DEET. Consider wearing long sleeves and tucking pants into socks and shirt into pants when outdoors at dusk or dawn, the time of day when mosquitoes are most active.

More information on repellents go to Environmental Protection Agency- insect-repellents. In addition:. To reduce the mosquito population around your home and property, reduce or eliminate all standing water:. Navigation menu.

Who gets WNV? Febrile illness fever in some people. About 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash.

Most people with febrile illness due to West Nile virus recover completely, but fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or months. Serious symptoms in a few people. About 1 in people who are infected develop a severe illness affecting the central nervous system such as encephalitis inflammation of the brain or meningitis inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link.

West Nile virus.