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Kerala on alter after man dies of West Nile Virus

  • Posted By
    10Pointer
  • Categories
    Science & Technology
  • Published
    31st May, 2022

Context

The Kerala health department is on alert after the death occurred due to the West Nile Virus.

About West Nile Virus

  • The West Nile Virus is a mosquito-borne, single-stranded RNA virus.
  • According to the WHO, it is a member of the flavivirus genus and belongs to the Japanese Encephalitis antigenic complex of the family Flaviviridae.
  • Vector: Culex species of mosquitoes act as the principal vectors for transmission.
  • Source of Transmission: It is transmitted by infected mosquitoes between and among humans and animals, including birds, which are the reservoir host of the virus.
    • It can also spread through blood transfusion, from an infected mother to her child, or through exposure to the virus in laboratories.

Background

  • First Case: The virus was first isolated in a woman in the West Nile district of Uganda in 1937.
    • Currently, the virus is found commonly in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America, and West Asia.
  • It was later identified in birds (crows and Columbiformes) in the Nile delta region in 1953.

Spread of Disease

  • The disease spreads through mosquito bites.
  • Mosquitoes are infected when they feed on infected birds.
  • The virus then circulates in blood and multiplies.
  • The virus also travels to salivary glands from where it is injected into humans as well as animals through mosquito bites.
  • There have been no reports of human-to-human transmission through casual contact till date.
  • But a small proportion of human infections have been reported through organ transplant, blood transfusions and breast milk while one case of transplacental.

Symptoms

  • The disease is asymptomatic in 80% of the infected people. The rest develop what is called the West Nile fever. 
    • In these 20% cases, the symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, body aches, nausea, rash and swollen glands. 
  • Severe infection can lead to encephalitis, meningitis, paralysis and even death.

Treatment

  • Treatment often involves hospitalization, intravenous fluids, respiratory support and prevention of secondary infections. 
  • No vaccine is available for humans.

Verifying, please be patient.