THE MEDICINE CABINET
West Nile Virus
By Jean Sutherland

     Most people will show no symptoms if bitten and infected. People who are older are more at risk as their immune systems are weaker than younger people. People who do show symptoms usually have West Nile Fever which is a case of mild disease in people, characterized by flu like symptoms. West Nile typically lasts only a few days and does not appear to cause any long term health effects.
     More severe disease due to a person being infected with this virus can be 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.
     SYMPTOMS - Most people who are infected with the West Nile virus will not have any type of illness. West Nile fever mild symptoms, including fever, headache, and body aches, occasionally with a skin rash on the trunk of the body and swollen lymph glands.
The symptoms of severe infection (West Nile encephalitis, meningitis, and meningoencephalitis) include headache, high fever, stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis. The incubation period in humans (i.e., time from infection to onset of disease symptoms) for West Nile encephalitis? Usually 3 to 14 days.
     The symptoms of mild disease will generally last a few days. Symptoms of severe disease may last several weeks, although neurological effects may be permanent. In the southern climates where temperatures are milder, West Nile virus can be transmitted year round. Protect yourself from mosquito bites. Apply insect repellent sparingly to exposed skin. The more DEET a repellent contains the longer time it can protect you from mosquito bites. A higher percentage of DEET in a repellent does not mean that your protection is better just that it will last longer.
     DEET concentrations higher than 50% do not increase the length of protection. Choose a repellent that provides protection for the amount of time that you will be outdoors. Repellents may irritate the eyes and mouth. Whenever you use an insecticide or insect repellent, be sure to read and follow the manufacturer’s DIRECTIONS FOR USE, as printed on the product. Spray clothing with repellents containing permethrin or DEET since mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing. Do not apply repellents containing permethrin directly to exposed skin. If you spray your clothing, there is no need to spray repellent containing DEET on the skin under your clothing. Place mosquito netting over your bed for nighttime sleeping. Consider staying indoors at dawn, dusk, and in the early evening, which are peak mosquito biting times.
     Install or repair window and door screens so that mosquitoes cannot get indoors. Help reduce the number of mosquitoes in areas outdoors where you work or play, by draining sources of standing water. In this way, you reduce the number of places mosquitoes can lay their eggs and breed. At least once or twice a week, empty water from flower pots, pet food and water dishes, birdbaths, swimming pool covers, buckets, barrels, and cans.
     Check for clogged rain gutters and clean them out. Remove discarded tires, and other items that could collect water. Be sure to check for containers or trash in places that may be hard to see, such as under bushes. Note: Vitamin B and “ultrasonic” devices are NOT effective in preventing mosquito bites.