28 people died after being infected with the West Nile virus.
Californian authorities from the Health department reported that 28 people have died from West Nile. Reports coming in from territory point out that over 500 people from 30 counties have been already tested positive. As West Nile makes new victims, authorities are growing concerned about senior citizens, who tend to be more predisposed to contracting this disease.
According to the Mayo Clinic bulletin report on West Nile, it seems that most people infected with the virus are asymptomatic. Still, in approximately 20 percent of cases, patients develop a minor infection, known as the West Nile fever. This particular kind of fever manifests with symptoms like headaches, body pains, fever, fatigue, throbbing pain in the back. Also, in some cases the infection manifests with additional symptoms like the presence of a skin rash, varicosed lymph glands. In rare instances, patients would also complain of eye pain.
In much more severe cases of West Nile, patients will experience neurological issues. Circa one percent of diagnosed cases develop acute symptoms. The most common forms of neurological implications are encephalitis and meningoencephalitis. Also, meningitis and West Nile induced poliomyelitis are also associated with the acute stage of the disease.
In rare instances, a patient with infection can even experience what is called flaccid paralysis, meaning that you will feel an infirmity in your arms, legs and breathing muscles.
There also other symptoms associated with this stage of West Nile infection. These include high body temperature, migraines, stiffness in neck joints, an overall feeling of confusion, coma, severe tremors, loss of coordination, convulsions and even paralysis.
Specialists say that although the initial signs of West Nile infection could disappear in a couple days, other neurological issues such as encephalitis and meningoencephalitis could go on for a couple of weeks. Unfortunately, in most cases, paralyses can be permanent.
The virus is typically transmitted by mosquitos that bite infected birds or other animals. In rare instances, researchers have discovered that the West Nile virus can be transmitted through blood transfusions, organ transplants and even breastfeeding. You cannot get West Nile by touching a person infected with this disease.
West Nile makes new victims in the US and authorities are urging people who experience West Nile related symptoms to rush to the nearby hospital. According to the statistics, last year over 31 people died after being infected with the West Nile virus.
This year’s outbreak of West Nile took its tool mostly of senior citizens.
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