West Nile Virus

Paper Summary:

This paper looks at how, in recent years, every summer, the threat of West Nile (WN) virus has become the scourge of the temperate regions of Europe and North America. It examines how the virus presents a threat to the human and animal populations and how symptoms of WN viral infection range from mild fevers and aches to encephalitis, which can be fatal.

Outline
Introduction and History
Entomology
Virology
Vertebrate Ecology
Symptoms of WN virus
Diagnosis and Reporting
Treatment and Prevention
The Role of the CDC in West Nile Virus
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Most people who are infected with the West Nile virus will not have any type of illness. Only 20% of those infected show signs of infection. The incubation period for the virus after initial entry into the blood stream is between three and fourteen days. These symptoms range from mild to severe Symptoms generally last from three to six days. In cases of severe symptoms where encephalitis and other neurological disorders occur the resulting symptoms "primary and secondary" may last from several weeks to months. In the case of neurological disorders, the effects of the infection might also be permanent. It is estimated that 1 in 150 persons infected with the West Nile virus will develop a more severe form of disease. The mild symptoms include fever, headache, and body aches, occasionally with a skin rash on the trunk of the body and swollen lymph glands."

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