WNV Kills Another Man

According to public health officials from Tarrant County, another man recently died due to the WNV infection. The victim was a senior patient who suffered of other medical conditions as well. The reports did not include other information about the victim.

In the 2015 season, one person died because of the West Nile Virus infection. It is worth mentioning that although anyone can contract the virus, those who are more likely to develop the disease are seniors over 50-years old, children, pregnant women, and people with weak immune systems.

More precisely, one in five individuals will experience the common symptoms of the WVN including rashes, diarrhea, vomiting, joint pains, body aches, and headaches. Fortunately, most people recover from this infection without long-term consequences, while less than 1% of those infected develop a neuroinvasive disease, which is a powerful infection that directly attacks the brain.

This disease causes violent symptoms such as high fever, headaches, disorientation, neck stiffness, seizures, tremors, coma, and paralysis. Authorities from many local communities warn residents that the disease-carrying insects are still active.

Mosquitoes contract the West Nile virus when they bite infected birds. Although the virus has no effect on these insects, they can transmit it to humans. That is why public health officials urge people to take active measures of prevention such as wearing protective clothing consisting of long-sleeved shirts and pants.

Experts stress that mosquitoes can bite through clothes, so thick clothing is your best bet. Residents should get rid any source of standing water around their homes including flower pots, buckets, pet water dishes, gutters, bird baths, and pool covers.

In addition to this, people should use mosquito deterrents containing lemon eucalyptus, Picaridin, DEET, IR3535. These prevention methods are crucial because there is no current cure or vaccine for this disease.

Some experts have recently discovered that the severe symptoms occur not because of the infection, but mostly due to an overreaction of the body to the virus. According to other reports, a bird was tested positive for WNV in Simi Valley two weeks ago.

Public health officials said that it was the 34^th bird in Ventura County infected with the WNV. Experts will continue their research to find a better strategy that will tackle this infection.

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