One person dies of West Nile fever in Thrissur

Tags: Science and Technology

The health department has been alerted after one person died of West Nile fever, a mosquito-borne disease, in Thrissur's Panancheri panchayat on May 29.

• About West Nile Virus

• West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne, single-stranded RNA virus.

• As per WHO, it is a member of the flavivirus genus and belongs to the Japanese Encephalitis antigenic complex of the family Flaviviridae. 

• Transmission of virus

• The Culex species of mosquitoes serves as the major carrier for transmission.

• It is transmitted through infected mosquitoes to humans, animals and birds.

• Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds and circulate the virus in their blood for a few days.

• The virus eventually moves into the mosquito's salivary glands.

• When mosquitoes bite, the virus enters the body of humans and animals where there is a rapid increase in the number of viruses that cause disease.

• The virus can also be spread by blood transfusion, from an infected mother to her child, or through exposure to the virus in laboratories.

• Symptoms

• In 80% of the infected people the disease is asymptomatic.

• Symptoms seen in 20% of cases include fever, headache, fatigue, body aches, nausea, rash and swollen glands.

• Severe infection can lead to encephalitis, meningitis, paralysis, and even death.

• It usually becomes fatal in individuals with co-morbidities and in immune-compromised individuals (e.g. transplant patients).