Mild case of west nile virus symptoms

Certain neurological effects, such as muscle weakness, can be permanent. Mild symptoms of West Nile fever usually resolve on their own. Seek medical attention right away if you have signs or symptoms of serious infection, such as severe headaches, a stiff neck, disorientation or confusion. A serious infection generally needs hospitalization.

When a mosquito bites an infected bird, the virus enters the mosquito's bloodstream and eventually moves into its salivary glands. When an infected mosquito bites an animal or a human host , the virus is passed into the host's bloodstream, where it may cause serious illness.

West Nile virus generally spreads to humans and animals from bites of infected mosquitoes. Mosquitoes get infected and carry the virus after biting infected birds.

You can't get infected from casual contact with an infected person or animal. Most West Nile virus infections happen during warm weather, when mosquitoes are active. The incubation period — the period between when you're bitten by an infected mosquito and the appearance of signs and symptoms of the illness — generally ranges from four to 10 days. It appeared in the United States in the summer of , and since then has been reported in every state — except Hawaii and Alaska — as well as in Canada.

In a few cases, West Nile virus might have spread through other routes, including organ transplants and blood transfusions. If you passed out and lost consciousness, probably the ED is going to be the place to go.

Urgent care clinics can see patients and do testing, and if patients need to go to an ED, the urgent care can send them there, Minior said. The volume of patients can be a bit overwhelming at times," he said. The health experts advise Arizonans to get the COVID vaccine and to also get a flu shot to minimize their chances of getting ill. Reach the reporter at Stephanie. Innes gannett. Follow her on Twitter stephanieinnes. Support local journalism.

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Vector specialist Antonio Laguna retrieves a mosquito trap from a tree, Oct. Antonio Laguna vector specialist holds a mosquito trap he retrieved from a tree, October 14, , near 47th Ave. Antonio Laguna vector specialist places a mosquito trap he retrieved in the back of his vehicle, October 14, , near 31st Ave. Slideshow continues on the next slide. Antonio Laguna vector specialist retrieves a mosquito trap from a palm tree, October 14, , near 31st Ave.

CBS Dallas See more videos. Click to expand. Research is currently being done on interferon therapy for West Nile virus. Interferon therapy is aimed at using substances produced by your immune system to treat encephalitis in people infected by West Nile virus.

Your doctor may discuss one or more of these treatments with you if you have encephalitis and your symptoms are severe or life-threatening. West Nile virus is most commonly spread during the summer, especially between June and September.

Around 20 percent of infected people will show some fever symptoms, such as headaches, vomiting, and diarrhea. These symptoms usually pass quickly. Some symptoms, such as fatigue, can continue for up to several months after the initial infection.

Fewer than one percent of people who get West Nile virus infections develop severe symptoms or neurological conditions such as meningitis or encephalitis. Of these cases, fewer than 10 percent are fatal. Every mosquito bite increases your risk of infection. These steps can help you prevent West Nile virus each time you are outdoors:. Mosquito bites are most common in late August to early September.

Report any dead birds you see to your local health agency. Dead birds can easily pass the West Nile virus on to mosquitos, which can pass it to humans even with a single bite. If any signs of the virus are found in the area around the bird, the health agency will likely increase pest control activity or pesticide use.

Though a vaccine exists to protect horses against West Nile virus, there is no vaccine for people. Supportive care during a West Nile virus infection, especially a severe one, is important to survival.

But immediate and consistent treatment is the best way to make sure that your symptoms remain mild. This is especially true if you have certain risk factors, such as old age or certain medical conditions. Mosquito bites are round, usually puffy, and severely itchy. Most people who are infected with West Nile virus either have no symptoms or experience mild illness with flu-like symptoms. In some individuals, particularly the elderly, West Nile virus can cause serious disease that affects brain tissue.

At its most serious, it can cause permanent neurological damage and can be fatal. The majority of people infected with West Nile virus will show no symptoms.

An estimated 1 in people infected with WNV will progress to a more severe infection called WNV encephalitis inflammation of the brain , WNV meningitis inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord or WNV meningeoencephalitis inflammation of the brain and surrounding membrane.

Symptoms of this severe disease can last several weeks, and the neurological effects may be permanent. This includes those individuals with flu-like illness and no central nervous system signs such as stiff neck, abnormal cerebral spinal fluid, mental status changes, paresis or paralysis that have laboratory evidence of WNV infection.

In an effort to document where transmission of this new pathogen is occurring, the MDCH encourages the reporting of these individuals to local and state health agencies. There is no specific treatment for West Nile viral illnesses. Because West Nile infections are caused by a virus, antibiotics are not an effective treatment and no antiviral drugs have been successfully used.