Here in the U.S., initial cases were reported as early as 1999. It has now appeared in all 48 contiguous states.  ?In the United States, wild birds are the carriers of West Nile virus. Mosquitoes are infected when they bite a bird and transmit the virus to humans through mosquito bites.  

WNV can also be transmitted through organ donation, blood transfusion, from mother to child in pregnancy and breast-feeding and from bites by other infected animals.  People typically develop symptoms between three and 14 days after they are bitten by the infected mosquito.  

Your risks for of getting infected increase during the summer and early fall (when mosquitoes are most active), in geographic areas that are more tropical (home to more mosquitoes), and if you spend more time outdoors.  

Your chances of becoming severely ill with the disease increase if you have a weakened immune system and if you are over the age of 50.  

Presently, all donated blood is screened for WNV before being used. The risk of getting WNV through blood transfusions and organ transplants is small and should not prevent people who need surgery from having it.

See your doctor as soon as possible if you experience symptoms that might suggest West Nile infection. Only your doctor can confirm the presence of the virus in your bloodstream or cerebrospinal fluid.  

Most people recover from West Nile virus without treatment including those who develop encephalitis or meningitis.   

However, some medical specialists are experimenting with the use of interferon therapy to boost immune cell function as a treatment for encephalitis caused by West Nile virus.  

You can protect yourself and your loved ones from the West Nile virus by taking precautions to eliminate standing pools of water near your home since they are the breeding grounds of mosquitoes, using insect repellent with DEET before venturing outdoors and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants especially when you go into mosquito-infested areas.  

A safety consideration when selecting your repellent, make sure you choose the concentration based on the hours of protection you will need. The chemical make-up of DEET is extremely toxic and wears off over time.  

Avoid applying repellent on infants and young children; instead, cover the stroller or playpen with mosquito netting.  A safer alternative, oil of eucalyptus, is a comparable substitute for protection against mosquito bites.  Avoid handling dead birds.  

Never touch dead birds with your bare hands and contact your local health department to report the discovery. They will tell you how to dispose of the bird.

Most people infected with the West Nile virus experience no signs or symptoms. One out of five may experience low-grade fever complicated with headache, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, backache, swollen lymph glands and skin rash that lasts five to seven days.  

However, one in 150 people infected with WNV will develop severe illness.  

The severe symptoms can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, muscle spasms or tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis.

These symptoms may last several weeks and neurological effects may be permanent.  

There is no vaccine for humans against WNV but one is available for horses from West Nile virus.  

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