The West Nile virus first appeared in the United States in 1999. It quickly spread from a number of infected birds to mosquitoes, which eventually transmitted it to the human population in several countries. It has decreased due to the cold weather, but in the 10 years since its arrival, 130 people have died annually from this mysterious disease.
Fortunately, today we know a little more about the disease than when we learned about it. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has announced a number of precautions we can take to reduce the risk of contracting West Nile virus.
How it spreads
West Nile virus is known as arbovirus, ie it is transmitted by arthropods. It is transmitted to humans and other animals by infected mosquitoes. It can also be transmitted by transfusion of infected blood, so that all blood donated in the United States is examined for signs of West Nile virus.
Basic symptoms
West Nile virus can cause flu-like symptoms that can last for weeks. About 20% of people infected with the virus have basic symptoms, including: headache, fever, body aches, swollen lymph nodes, nausea or vomiting, and permanent rash on the chest, abdomen or back. However, every 50 people will have much more severe symptoms.
Severe symptoms
The virus, of course, can be defeated much more strongly than the flu. Some of these very serious symptoms may persist for several weeks after the initial infection. These include fever, headache or stiff neck, disorientation, shivering, convulsions, vision loss, numbness, stupor, paralysis and even coma. Many neurological symptoms can even be permanent.
Asymptomatic
Even more worrying than the possible unpleasant symptoms of West Nile virus is the fact that 80% of people infected with the virus do not know they have them. True, 80% of people infected with the virus are asymptomatic. The worst thing is that they don’t even know 14 days after the initial infection.
Fatal
As we discussed earlier, death is a possible result of the West Nile virus. The disease kills only 10% of those diagnosed, but there is a possibility. It kills by crossing the blood barriers of the brain and affects normal brain function and impulses. This interferes with the vascular and respiratory systems.
What should I do?
Now you may be wondering, “Of course we know he can kill us, how do we prevent that from happening?” As a result, prevention is the best way to fight this disease. Once you get it, you need to follow its course before leaving the body, so the best way to fight the West Nile virus is to prevent it from appearing.
Prevention
The best way to prevent West Nile virus is to prevent those who transmit the disease from biting you. Mosquitoes are the main culprit for all this, and by minimizing contact with these rude insects, you can reduce the risk of getting West Nile virus. Here are some tried and true methods of fighting bugs.
Three R
The Ministry of Health has divided West Nile virus prevention into a series of three useful and easy-to-follow tips. It is divided into three Rs: reduce, reject and inform. First, reduction refers to helping to reduce the number of potential places where mosquitoes can breed.
Stagnation
Getting rid of stagnant water is the most important precaution. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant water and do not like to fly far from the place where they were burned and raised. The fewer places in your home you can lay eggs, the less likely they are to buzz around your yard.
Methods of removal
Ways to check that the first R on your list includes draining excess water from the pan, cleaning pet food and utensils with water, and making sure the bird baths in the yard are empty of standing water. at least twice a week. Other sources of standing water include pool covers, bins and trash cans. Overloaded rain channels are also neglected places of standing water.
Dodge behavior
If your environment is particularly problematic, it’s a good idea to also consider staying home at sunrise, sunset, and early evening. This is the biggest time for mosquito bites. If you need to go out, preferably wear long-sleeved T-shirts and pants and put mosquito nets in strollers if you have babies.
Household repairs
In addition, if there is a lack of screens on windows or doors and you live in an insect-prone location, it may be advisable to buy and install screens on all windows to keep bugs away from the house. If you have these monitors, check for tears or tears and repair as needed.
Insect repellent
In addition to wearing long-sleeved clothing, a good way to repel insects is to use, you guessed it, insect repellent spray. Repellents that are particularly effective against mosquitoes are those that include DEET (diethyltoluamide, the active ingredient in most insect repellents). You can spray yourself with various products that are available in the market and even protect your home by looking for experts to spray.
Warnings
These outdoor treatments are common and most treatments are safe during the summer. If you are in a specially coated mosquito, you can spray your clothes with repellents containing permethrin or any other preparation that is registered with EPA. Keep in mind that repellents containing permethrin should be used sparingly, because the active ingredient can cause rashes and skin irritation.
Specific mixtures
There are many brands of insect repellents that effectively prevent cramps, hats, wasps, wigs, spiders and many other harmful animals in the yard. The most important thing is that for our purposes, they work especially on helping to kill and repel mosquitoes. Many people are not interested in dangerous chemicals, preferring to repel mosquitoes naturally.
Leather armor
Skin Armor’s Deep Armor Outdoor Soap is a completely natural product, made from natural oils, not aggressive chemicals. This new product effectively creates permanent skin protection against mosquitoes. Citronella plants and candles offer relief, but are not as effective as many other commercial products.
The report
In addition to taking all of these precautions, there is one recommended by the Ministry of Health. The third R refers to the report and means that anyone who finds dead birds and standing water in or near your area should report it as soon as possible. This is so that they can collect samples of dead mosquitoes and birds to detect evidence of the virus.
All indications
If West Nile virus is detected in these samples, it could be an indication that the surrounding human population is facing cases without even being aware of it. The best way for the CDC to help reduce the risk to the general population is to understand where the virus occurs and take precautions to eliminate areas of infected animals.
Slow fall
Over the years, the virus has declined in intensity and, fortunately, in victims. However, the West Nile virus is still a dangerous disease and is no less dangerous than two decades ago. Babies, newborns and the elderly or sick are still at higher risk than in 1999 and should therefore be protected.
Take into account
Taking precautions and being aware of your health and the environment is the best way to avoid a terrible outcome when it comes to the West Nile virus. If you suspect that a mosquito bite has made you ill, do not hesitate, see a doctor immediately. Quick treatment and recognition are everyone’s best defense.