| Article Title: What You Should Know About West | | | | Treatment for WNV is entirely supportive |
| Nile Virus | | | | because there isno medication that specifically |
| Author Name: Becky Sisk, Ph.D. | | | | fights the disease. As withany infection, be sure |
| Contact Email Address: Category: Health & Fitness | | | | to drink plenty of fluids, getadequate rest, and |
| Word Count: 677 | | | | take fever reducers, such as acetaminophenor |
| You have permission to publish this article | | | | aspirin, if you have symptoms of WNV. If you |
| electronically, aslong as the resource box at the | | | | have thesymptoms and have been bitten by a |
| end is included. Please contactme if you use this | | | | mosquito recently, contactyour physician. |
| article at | | | | People who have viral encephalitis or viral |
| ******************** | | | | meningitisoften require intensive care, medications |
| What You Should Know About West Nile Virus | | | | to treat seizures,a breathing machine, and |
| (c) 2002 | | | | replacement of fluids and electrolytes. |
| By Becky Sisk, Ph.D. | | | | HOW CAN YOU PREVENT WNV? |
| The West Nile virus (WNV) was first documented | | | | -- Drain any collections of stagnant water found in |
| in Uganda in 1937. | | | | your yard,neighborhood, or work place. |
| The first case in the United States was reported | | | | -- Use mosquito repellants containing "DEET," |
| in New York Cityin 1999. Additional human cases | | | | carefullyfollowing package directions. |
| are identified and deaths arereported daily. Here's | | | | * Use a repellant that is no more than 10% DEET |
| what you need to know. | | | | for children. |
| WHO CONTRACTS WNV? | | | | * Treat clothing, skin, bedding, tents and tent |
| WNV affects all races and men and women | | | | screens aswell as people. |
| equally. The elderly,chronically ill, or | | | | * Avoid getting mosquito repellant on the hands |
| immunosuppressed are more likely tobecome | | | | to preventgetting DEET into the mouth, eyes, |
| seriously ill or die from WNV. | | | | ears. |
| HOW IS WNV TRANSMITTED? | | | | -- Wear long sleeves and long pants when |
| -- WNV is carried from animal to animal by | | | | outdoors. |
| mosquito bites. | | | | -- Avoid wearing bright colors or using perfumes |
| Birds (especially crows) are the most common | | | | outdoors. Both mayattract mosquitoes. |
| victims, but WNVhas infected horses and smaller | | | | -- Stay indoors from dusk to dawn, when |
| animals as well. | | | | mosquitoes are more active. |
| -- Birds, horses, humans, and other animals do not | | | | -- Report dead birds or other animals to state and |
| transmit thedisease. Mosquitoes do. Therefore, | | | | local healthdepartments. |
| you will not get WNV ifyou handle animals who | | | | -- Cooperate with local health department and |
| are infected. | | | | governmental effortsto rid the community of |
| -- The more mosquito bites you have, the more | | | | mosquitoes. They use two types ofchemicals: |
| likely you are tobecome infected. This does *not* | | | | Natural compounds that kill the larvae and |
| mean that you should runto the doctor or your | | | | methoprineto kill adults. Methoprine can cause eye |
| emergency room when a mosquito bitesyou. The | | | | irritations or skinrash, though the incidence is rare. |
| likelihood that you have become infected is | | | | HOW CAN YOU FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION |
| extremelysmall. | | | | ABOUT WNV? |
| HOW DO DOCTORS DIAGNOSE WNV? | | | | Go to the following resources to find out more |
| -- The signs and symptoms of WNV are fever, | | | | about WNV. The |
| headache, loss ofappetite, nausea and vomiting, | | | | CDC site has the very latest information, including |
| muscle pain, eye pain, rash,and enlarged lymph | | | | an up-to-datemap showing the most current |
| glands. According to a recent articlein the Annals | | | | cases. |
| of Internal Medicine, the incubaton periodof WNV | | | | Centers for Disease Control (2002). Prevention: |
| is from three to 14 days. | | | | Avoid mosquitobites to avoid infection. Retrieved |
| -- WNV is dangerous when it develops into viral | | | | August 12, 2002. |
| encephalitis orviral meningitis. Symptoms of viral | | | | Cunha, B.A. (2002). West Nile encephalitis. |
| encephalitis includeconfusion and a gradual loss of | | | | Retrieved September |
| consciousness. Symptoms ofviral meningitis include | | | | 15, 2002. opic3160.htm. (Requiresfree registration |
| a stiff neck and neurological signsyour doctor will | | | | to access). |
| recognize. | | | | Petersen, L.R., & Marfin, A.A. (2002). West Nile |
| -- Doctors diagnose WNV through a history and | | | | virus: A primerfor the clinician. Annals of Internal |
| physicalexamination. They also order a blood test | | | | Medicine(137), 173-179. |
| to detect theantibody to the WNV and or to find | | | | ******************** |
| the virus itself inthe blood. A case is considered to | | | | Becky Sisk, PhD., R.N., is ownerand webmaster of |
| be "probable West Nilevirus" when the WNV | | | | NurseScribe, Contact her |
| antibody is identified and "confirmed | | | | This article is for information use only and is not |
| West Nile virus" when the virus itself is identified in | | | | medicaladvice. Please consult your physician if you |
| theblood. | | | | are concerned anymedical conditions. |
| HOW DO DOCTORS TREAT WNV? | | | | |