West Nile Disease

Symptoms of West Nile virus and treatment of West Nile virus
West Nile Virus has spread rapidly across North America, affecting thousands of birds, horses and humans, as it has been discovered in the Western Hemisphere. WNV has swept around New York City in 1999 to almost all of the continental United States, 7 Canadian provinces and across Mexico and parts of the Caribbean in 2004.

In humans, the virus often causes a mild infection - characterized by fever, headache, fatigue, pain and rashes - that heals without further treatment. But some patients develop serious infections that can result from neurological diseases and even death.

West Nile Virus (WNV) is an infectious disease that emerged in the United States in 1999. Infected mosquitoes spread the virus that causes it. People who contract West Nile virus usually have no symptoms or mild symptoms.

Statistics West Nile Virus

Studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have documented 954 cases of human West Nile virus in the United States in 2002. Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan and Mississippi were the most affected areas. Infected birds were found in provinces such as Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Quebec.

Symptoms of West Nile virus

You may have tremors, muscle pain and fatigue for months after illness, especially if your brain has been infected. Other possible effects of seizures, memory loss, personality changes, paralysis, and symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease. Some of these problems can last long.

Symptoms of severe disease (also called neuroinvasive disease, such as West Nile encephalitis or meningitis or West Nile poliomyelitis) include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma , tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness and paralysis. An estimated 1,150 people infected with West Nile virus will develop a more severe form of the disease.

Treatment of West Nile virus

Supportive treatment for West Nile virus can include receiving fluids through a vein (intravenously or IV), assistance with breathing (using a fan), and prevention of secondary infections such as pneumonia. For more information, see the topic encephalitis.

In 2007, the World Community Grid launched a project with computer modeling by West Nile virus (and other viruses) thousands of small molecules are selected for their potential anti-viral properties in fighting against the West Nile virus. It is a project by the use of computer simulations potential drugs will be identified directly attack the virus once a person is infected.

This is a project delivery process similar to SETI @ Home, where the general public downloads the World Community Grid agent and the program (with thousands of other users) screens thousands of molecules while their computer would otherwise be idle. If the user needs to use the computer the program sleeps.

There is no specific treatment. In more severe cases, intensive supportive therapy is indicated, ie, hospitalization, intravenous (IV) fluids and nutrition, airway management, ventilatory support (ventilator) if needed, prevention of secondary infections (pneumonia, urinary tract, etc.), and good nursing care.