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West Nile fever
What is it?
West Nile fever is caused by West Nile virus or WNV (also called West Nile encephalitis and West Nile meningitis). It affects humans, birds, mosquitoes, horses and some other mammals, causing inflammation of the brain, the membrane around the brain and the spinal cord.
Birds are the primary hosts of WNV; the disease is usually spread by mosquitoes that have bitten infected birds and then bite humans or other animals.
Where is it found?
WNV is found in much of Africa, North America, Europe, the Middle East and India.
What are its effects?
About one in 150 people infected with WNV develop severe illness, with symptoms including fever, headache, neck stiffness, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. These symptoms may last several weeks and effects can be permanent.
Up to 20 per cent of people will show symptoms such as fever, headache and body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back. About 80 per cent of people infected with WNV will not show any symptoms at all. There is no specific treatment for WNV infection.