Deadly new Virus West Nile kills a 7 Yr old, disease spreading all over sporadically

The Centre had on last Thursday sent a team to Kerala after the boy had tested positive for the vector-borne West Nile virus, to review the situation and also help the district administration in its prevention and management. The Indian Council of Medical Research was also alerted and a close watch was being maintained at the central and state levels, the statement said. Though it seems to be spreading sporadically all over the world.

The virus seems to have been transmitted to humans through a mosquito bite and is mostly reported in North America. Affected people complain of fever, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting, occasionally skin rash and swollen lymph glands.

A health ministry statement on Thursday said the Centre was closely monitoring the situation and Union Health Minister JP Nadda had directed for all support to be extended to Kerala for prevention and management of the disease. The Health Ministry had dispatched a four-member multi-disciplinary central team from National Centre for Disease Control.

How to recognise the infection: 

This infection is quite confusing and difficult to diagnose. Most people  (8 out of 10) infected with West Nile virus do not develop any symptoms.

A strong immune system matters. Most people with this type of West Nile virus disease recover completely, but fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or months. About 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. 

The weak once start showing serious symptoms in a few people. About 1 in 150 people who are infected develop a severe illness affecting the central nervous system such as encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord). In case of the illness turns out to be severe….look out for following symptoms: 

• Fever and illness include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis.
• Severe illness can occur in people of all age; however, people over 60 years of age are at greater risk as with age the immune system goes week. People with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, and people who have received organ transplants, are also at greater risk.
• Recovery from severe illness might take several weeks or months. Some effects to the central nervous system might be permanent.
• About 1 out of 10  people who develop severe illness affecting the central nervous system die.