West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne arbovirus that was discovered in 1927 in the West Nile sub-region of Uganda. The first serious outbreaks of WNV occurred in the mid-1990s in Algeria and Romania. The virus was introduced in the United States in
1999
, with the first case being identified in New York City.
When did West Nile come to the US?
After the unexpected arrival of West Nile virus (WNV) in the United States in
1999
, the mosquito-borne virus quickly spread throughout North America. Over the past 20 years, WNV has become endemic, with sporadic epizootics.
How did West Nile virus get to the United States?
The West Nile virus now found across the continental United States, Canada, Central America and the Caribbean is an Israeli strain introduced into New York City in 1999. It was likely carried
by an infected stowaway mosquito
that arrived by plane or cargo ship.
When was the West Nile virus pandemic?
The first recognised outbreak in humans occurred in
1962–1963
in the Camargue, southern France [31]. In 1996, the first major WNV infection epidemic occurred in Europe, during which Romania identified about 400 cases [32].
Is West Nile virus a pandemic?
What Is West Nile Virus? West Nile virus infection can cause serious disease. WNV is established as a
seasonal epidemic in North America
that flares up in the summer and continues into the fall.
What are the odds of getting West Nile?
The odds of getting the most severe forms of West Nile disease are
about one in 150
.
Where did Ebola come from?
Ebola virus disease ( EVD ) is a severe disease caused by Ebola virus, a member of the filovirus family, which occurs in humans and other primates. The disease emerged in 1976 in almost simultaneous
outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo ( DRC ) and Sudan (now South Sudan)
.
What state has the most West Nile cases?
Colorado
continues to be the most affected state (with 1,542 cases and 27 deaths… As of 11 September, 37 states have reported human cases of WNV. The cumulative total is 3,307 cases and 64 deaths.
What part of the body does West Nile virus affect?
West Nile virus (WNV) is a potentially serious illness that can attack the nervous system of animals and humans. The virus interferes with normal central nervous system functioning and causes
inflammation of brain tissue
.
Can humans get West Nile from birds?
Can I get West Nile virus directly from birds?
There is no evidence that a person can get infected from handling live or dead infected birds
. However, you should avoid bare-handed contact when handling any dead animal.
What was Zika virus named after?
Zika virus was first discovered in 1947 and is named after
the Zika Forest in Uganda
. In 1952, the first human cases of Zika were detected and since then, outbreaks of Zika have been reported in tropical Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands.
How does West Nile virus affect humans?
Humans get West Nile
from the bite of an infected mosquito
. Usually, the West Nile virus causes no symptoms or only mild, flu-like symptoms. The virus can cause life-threatening illnesses, such as encephalitis, meningitis, or meningoencephalitis.
How long does West Nile virus stay in your body?
Your body has to fight the infection on its own. In mild cases of West Nile, symptoms usually last for
3 to 6 days
, and you can recover at home. If you get a more severe case of West Nile, symptoms can last for weeks or months, and you may need to stay in the hospital so you can get medicine to help you recover.
Who is most likely to get very sick from West Nile virus?
Severe illness can occur in people of any age; however,
people over 60 years of age
are at greater risk for severe illness if they are infected (1 in 50 people).
How common is West Nile virus in the world?
In 2018, 49 out of 50 states and the District of Columbia reported West Nile virus infections in people, birds, or mosquitoes. Overall,
2,647 cases of WNV were reported in humans
, and there were 167 (6.3%) confirmed deaths in 2018. This data shows an increase from the number of human cases reported in 2017 (2,097).
How does West Nile virus affect the immune system?
Although peripheral immune responses to WNV can prevent encephalitis, up to 40% of immunocompetent animals infected with a virulent WNV strain develop
lethal neuroinvasive disease
[20,21]. In these cases the pathologic effect of the immune system cannot be excluded.
