What is West Nile virus?

West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne illness traditionally found in Africa, West Asia, and the Middle East. In recent years, the virus has spread to the United States, where it has become a seasonal epidemic. The West Nile period begins in the summer and continues into the fall, and in climates with milder temperatures, the disease can be transmitted year round.
West Nile is part of the family of flaviviruses, single stranded viruses carried by ticks and mosquitoes and carry diseases like dengue, Japanese B encephalitis and yellow fever

What are the symptoms of West Nile virus?

The severity of the West Nile illness varies depending on the individual infected. Four out of five of people infected with West Nile never show symptoms, while others develop West Nile fever or severe West Nile disease.

Up to 20% of people who become infected will develop West Nile fever, a disease whose symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, body aches, and occasionally skin rash and swollen lymph glands.  The illness can be as short as a few days, though even healthy people have reported being sick for several weeks.

In the more severe West Nile disease (also called neuroinvasive disease), the illness progresses into West Nile encephalitis, meningitis or poliomyelitis. In these cases, symptoms include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis. Approximately one in 150 persons infected with the West Nile virus will develop a more severe form of disease.

Is West Nile virus common in Montgomery County?

The Montgomery County Health Department received 17 reports of West Nile Virus in the county during 2003. There was one case reported in 2004 and six cases reported in 2005.  Montgomery County's location in the Piney Woods of Texas gives the area with plenty of trees, rainfall and warm temperatures. These conditions create a breeding ground for mosquitoes, come of which carry the West Nile virus.

How is West Nile virus treated?

There is no specific treatment for West Nile virus. In milder cases of West Nile fever, symptoms pass without intervention.  People with more serious cases of West Nile illness should go to the hospital where they can receive supportive treatment including intravenous fluids, help with breathing and nursing care.

Is there a vaccine against West Nile virus?

There is currently no vaccine against West Nile virus, but the Centers for Disease Control is working with public and private agencies to develop one.

What is my risk of getting sick from West Nile virus?

The more time you're outdoors, the more risk you have of being bitten by an infected mosquito. Pay attention to avoiding mosquito bites if you spend a lot of time outside, either working or playing.

If you're over 50 years old, you're at an increased risk of getting sick, should you become infected with the virus. You should be careful to avoid mosquito bites when you go outside

How can I protect myself from West Nile virus?

The best protection against West Nile virus is to keep from getting mosquito bites.  Avoid spending time outside between dusk and dawn, the times when mosquitoes are most active. If you must go outside, use insect repellent and wear long sleeves and pants.

Keep mosquitoes out of your home by making sure that you have proper screens on your windows and doors, and eliminate mosquito breeding sites from your yard by getting rid of standing water. Empty water from flower pots and buckets, drill holes in tire swings (so the water drains out), and change bird baths weekly.

Use mosquito repellent containing active ingredients registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use as repellents applied to skin and clothing. The ingredients proved to be the longest lasting are DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) and Picaridin (KBR 3023).

To find out more about West Nile Virus, check out the Centers for Disease Control web site: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/wnv_factsheet.htm

A list of EPA-approved mosquito repellents and tips on how to use them can be found at: www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/mosquitoes/insectrp.htm.

Statistics about the presence of West Nile virus in Texas on the web site of the Texas Department of State Health Services:
www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/disease/arboviral/westnile/