Achi news desk-
Human infection is most often the result of bites from infected mosquitoes. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds, which circulate the virus in their blood for a few days. Eventually, the virus enters the mosquito’s salivary glands. During the later blood meals (when mosquitoes bite), the virus can be injected into humans and animals, where it can multiply and potentially cause illness.
A very small proportion of human infections have occurred through organ transplants, blood transfusions and breast milk.
WNV infection is either asymptomatic (no symptoms) in about 80 percent of infected people and 20 percent of people who become infected with WNV will develop West Nile fever. Symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and body aches, nausea, vomiting, and occasionally a skin rash (on the trunk) and swollen lymph glands.
Serious illness can occur in people of any age, however, people over 50 and some immunocompromised people (for example, transplant patients) are at the highest risk of becoming seriously ill when infected with WNV, says WHO. The incubation period is usually 3 to 14 days.
Treatment for patients with neuroinvasive West Nile virus is supportive, often including hospitalization, intravenous fluids, respiratory support, and prevention of secondary infections. There is no vaccine available for humans.
Kerala health minister Veena George said the disease has been reported in Malappuram, Kozhikode and Thrissur districts. All the infected people have recovered, except one. The infected people, which included children, are all well now and back in their homes with no new cases being reported from the areas where they live.
The samples of those who showed symptoms of the disease and had undergone treatment were sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune as a routine practice.
