Infectious Disease Project: West Nile Virus

Research

Type of agent that spreads the disease: (Olivia)                                    

•   By Infected Mosquitoes

Type of infection and/or transmission:(Zach)

•   Mosquitos are the cause of the west nile virus all over the world. Birds are the original cause of the virus, they are incapable of spreading it to humans.  It is only when a mosquito decides to drink the blood of the infected bird that it becomes dangerous.The mosquito becomes infected and then transmits the blood disease next time it bites a person.
• another way that people can get the virus is through other humans that dont know that they have the virus and give it to you through a blood transfusion or an organ transplant.

Symptoms: (nyah)                                                                    

•  Makes people midly ill                                                              
• Flu like symptoms
• fever,
• headache
• body aches
• sometimes skin rashes
• swollen glands
• More severe could be encephalitis which includes severe headache, high fever, neck stiffness, disorentation, and sometimes convulsions.
• Coma
• tremors
• muscle weakness

   

Treatment: (Olivia)

 

•  Primarily includes supportives therapy     
•  Recieving fluids through a vein
•  Pain Killers
   

Control/prevention: (nyah)

•   Apply insect repellent to exposed skin
•  Spray clothes with repellent
•  Staying indoors at dawn, dusk, and in the early evening, which are peak mosquito biting times.
•  Install or repair windows were mosquitoes can get in
•  When weather permits were long sleeve shirts and long pants whenever your outside

Number of people infected each year: (Nyah)

•  15,000 since 1999
• 500 people died

Where it occurs: (Zach)

• North America   

• In 48 out of 50 states in the United States
• 7 Candian Providences
• Also been found in the Caribean and Puerto Rico
• It spread to the middle east and Africa

Group members

• Nyah D.
• Zach M.
• Olivia C.

Sources

1. http://westnilevirus.nbii.gov/
2.  http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/prevention.htm
3. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/wnv_factsheet.htm
4. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/west-nile-virus/DS00438 

Meetings

When should we meet?