Kerala on alter after man dies of West Nile Virus

Context

The Kerala health department is on alert after the death occurred due to the West Nile Virus.

About West Nile Virus

• The West Nile Virus is a mosquito-borne, single-stranded RNA virus.
• According to the WHO, it is a member of the flavivirus genus and belongs to the Japanese Encephalitis antigenic complex of the family Flaviviridae.
• Vector: Culex species of mosquitoes act as the principal vectors for transmission.
• Source of Transmission: It is transmitted by infected mosquitoes between and among humans and animals, including birds, which are the reservoir host of the virus.
• It can also spread through blood transfusion, from an infected mother to her child, or through exposure to the virus in laboratories.

Background

• First Case: The virus was first isolated in a woman in the West Nile district of Uganda in 1937.
• Currently, the virus is found commonly in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America, and West Asia.
• It was later identified in birds (crows and Columbiformes) in the Nile delta region in 1953.

Spread of Disease

• The disease spreads through mosquito bites.
• Mosquitoes are infected when they feed on infected birds.
• The virus then circulates in blood and multiplies.
• The virus also travels to salivary glands from where it is injected into humans as well as animals through mosquito bites.
• There have been no reports of human-to-human transmission through casual contact till date.
• But a small proportion of human infections have been reported through organ transplant, blood transfusions and breast milk while one case of transplacental.

Symptoms

• The disease is asymptomatic in 80% of the infected people. The rest develop what is called the West Nile fever. 
• In these 20% cases, the symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, body aches, nausea, rash and swollen glands. 
• Severe infection can lead to encephalitis, meningitis, paralysis and even death.

Treatment

• Treatment often involves hospitalization, intravenous fluids, respiratory support and prevention of secondary infections. 
• No vaccine is available for humans.