[ad_1]
West Nile virus is the most widespread virus in the world that is spread by insect bites. Both humans and animals can be infected with this virus.
It is a zoonotic, viral etiology infectious disease that is transmitted to humans and animals through the bite of infected mosquitoes. The causative agent is West Nile virus (WNV), which was first isolated and identified in 1937 in the West Nile region of Uganda.
After the virus was discovered, it spread from the African continent to the Middle East, parts of Asia and Australia, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Mediterranean.
Spread of the virus
The virus has been present in Europe since the 1960s, but the number of infections has increased in the past two decades and is expected to increase in the future.
Factors contributing to this epidemiological situation include climate change, intensive international traffic, the spread of pathogens and vectors to new geographic areas, more frequent contact between people and wild animals and insects, and changes in the microbiome.
The main vector of West Nile fever is Culex mosquitoes, but there are also mosquitoes of other genera, such as Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus and Anopheles. To date, West Nile virus has been isolated from 43 species of mosquitoes.
transfer method
The main way of spreading the infection to humans and other animals is through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Mosquitoes become infected by feeding on the blood of infected birds, which serve as reservoirs for the infection, primarily crows and jackdaws.
In rare cases, infection can be transmitted vertically from mother to child through transfusion of infected blood, tissue and organ transplantation, and transplacental transmission and during breastfeeding. West Nile virus is not spread from person to person through contact.
symptom
About 80% of infected people have no symptoms, and about 20% have mild clinical manifestations, including fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a rash on the skin of the chest, back or abdomen.
In 1 in 150 infected people, severe clinical symptoms develop with signs of inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) or of the meninges and spinal cord (meningitis), a neuroinvasive form of the disease.
There is no causal treatment for infection caused by West Nile virus. Treatment is symptomatic.
West Nile fever is a seasonal disease, meaning it is most prevalent when mosquitoes are most active. According to the website of the Municipal Institute of Public Health, the first batch of patients were registered mainly in late July, with the largest number of patients registered in August and September.
Precaution
The cornerstones of prevention of West Nile virus infection are mosquito control measures and personal protection measures.
The most effective method of prevention is to prevent mosquito bites. To this end, it is necessary to:
– Avoid exposure to mosquitoes during their most active hours (dusk and dawn).
– Avoid areas with large numbers of insects, such as forests, swamps, and other similar areas.
– Use insect repellent, i.e., insect repellent, on exposed areas of your body when in nature and outdoors.
– Wear clothing that covers your arms and legs.
The second part of prevention is to reduce or eliminate mosquitoes indoors and outdoors, so it is recommended to:
– Place protective screens on windows and use protective agents in tablet or liquid form.
– Drying out sources of standing water that mosquitoes need for all stages of their development eliminates hiding places in areas where they work, play or stay in the open air, thereby reducing the number of places where mosquitoes can lay their eggs.
– Empty flower pots, pet food and water bowls, buckets, barrels, cans or decorative fountains at least once a week.
– Remove discarded tires and other objects that may collect water.
Source: N1
Photo: Illustration/Pexels.com
[ad_2]
Source link
