West nile virus symptoms

West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne virus which may cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. West Nile virus is spread in humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected by biting a bird that carries the virus. You or your child cannot get west nile virus symptoms or virus from a person who has the disease. West Nile virus is not spread by person-to-person contact such as touching, caring or kissing to someone who is infected.


What are west nile virus symptoms?

In past few years’ outbreak, most people who were infected with the West Nile virus had none of  west nile virus symptoms or they experienced mild illness with headache, fever and body aches before a full recovering. In outbreaks in other parts of the world, some of the patients also developed a mild rash or swollen lymph glands which were considered west nile virus symptoms. In some other individuals, especially the elderly, west nile virus symptoms emerged from the virus can cause diseases that are serious and which affects brain tissue. At its most it can cause permanent neurological damage and may be fatal. As soon as west Nile virus symptoms are visible it is important to consult a doctor as it can be fatal in some cases. West Nile encephalitis cannot be transmitted from person to person. For example, one cannot get West Nile virus by touching or kissing a person who has this disease, or from a health care worker who has treated someone with the disease. The incubation period in humans for west Nile virus symptoms (i.e., time from infection to onset of disease symptoms) is usually 5 to 15 days. It is said that most mosquitoes are not infected with the West Nile virus. And illnesses associated with mosquito bites are rare, particularly in New York City.