Re: OT- Kendra- West Nile Info

[Guest guest]

Thanx for re-posting, !

Kendra

> Here is today's Know What topic:

>

> ===============

> West Nile Virus

> ===============

>

> Overview of West Nile Virus

>

> Q. How long has West Nile virus been in the U.S.?

> A. It is not known how long it has been in the U.S., but CDC

scientists

> believe the virus has probably been in the eastern U.S. since the

early

> summer of 1999, possibly longer.

>

> Transmission of West Nile Virus

>

> Q. How do people get West Nile encephalitis?

> A. People become infected by the bite of a mosquitoes infected with

West Nile

> virus.

>

> Q. If I live in an area where birds or mosquitoes with West Nile

virus have

> been reported and a mosquito bites me, am I likely to get sick?

> A. No. Even in areas where mosquitoes do carry the virus, very few

> mosquitoesÑmuch less than 1%Ñare infected. If the mosquito is

infected, less

> than 1% of people who get bitten and become infected will get

severely ill.

> The chances you will become severely ill from any one mosquito bite

are

> extremely small.

>

> Q. How many types of animals have been found to be infected with

West Nile

> virus?

> A. Although the vast majority of infections have been identified

in birds,

> WN virus has been shown to infect horses, cats, bats, chipmunks,

skunks,

> squirrels, and domestic rabbits.

>

> Q. How does West Nile virus actually cause severe illness and death

in

> humans?

> A. Following transmission by an infected mosquito, West Nile virus

multiplies

> in the person's blood system and crosses the blood-brain barrier to

reach the

> brain. The virus interferes with normal central nervous system

functioning

> and causes inflammation of brain tissue.

>

> Prevention of West Nile Virus

>

> Q. Is there a vaccine against West Nile encephalitis?

> A. No, but several companies are working towards developing a

vaccine.

>

> Q. What can I do to reduce my risk of becoming infected with West

Nile virus?

> A.

> * Stay indoors at dawn, dusk, and in the early evening.

> * Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants whenever you are

outdoors.

> * Spray clothing with repellents containing permethrin or DEET

since

> mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing.

> * Apply insect repellent sparingly to exposed skin. An effective

repellent

> will contain 35% DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide). DEET in high

> concentrations (greater than 35%) provides no additional protection.

> * Repellents may irritate the eyes and mouth, so avoid applying

repellent to

> the hands of children.

> * Whenever you use an insecticide or insect repellent, be sure to

read and

> follow the manufacturer's DIRECTIONS FOR USE, as printed on the

product.

> * Note: Vitamin B and " ultrasonic " devices are NOT effective in

preventing

> mosquito bites.

>

> Symptoms of West Nile Virus

>

> Q. Who is at risk for getting West Nile encephalitis?

> A. All residents of areas where virus activity has been identified

are at

> risk of getting West Nile encephalitis; persons older than 50 years

have the

> highest risk of severe disease.

>

> Q. What are the symptoms of West Nile encephalitis?

> A. Most infections are mild, and symptoms include fever, headache,

and body

> aches, occasionally with skin rash and swollen lymph glands. More

severe

> infection may be marked by headache, high fever, neck stiffness,

stupor,

> disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness,

paralysis, and,

> rarely, death.

>

> Q. What is the incubation period in humans (i.e., time from

infection to

> onset of disease symptoms) for West Nile encephalitis?

> A. Usually 3 to 15 days.

>

> Testing and Treating West Nile Encephalitis in Humans

>

> Q. I think I have symptoms of West Nile virus. What should I do?

> A. Contact your health care provider if you have concerns about

your health.

> If you or your family members develop symptoms such as high fever,

confusion,

> muscle weakness, and severe headaches, you should see your doctor

> immediately.

>

>

>

> For more information:

> <A HREF= " http://newsletters.keepkidshealthy.com/cgi-

bin/knowwhat.cgi?l=welcome/infectionsguide/west_nile_virus.html " >West

Nile Virus</A>

>

>

> <A HREF= " http://newsletters.keepkidshealthy.com/cgi-

bin/knowwhat.cgi " >more Know What topics</A>

>

>

> <A HREF= " http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/ " >Visit

keepkidshealthy.com</A>

[Guest guest]

Thanks a bunch - I had been totally skipping over these West

Nile Virus post assuming everyone was talking about a computer

virus. Duh!

Debbie Abby's mom

MI

>

>

> > Here is today's Know What topic:

> >

> > ===============

> > West Nile Virus

> > ===============

> >

> > Overview of West Nile Virus

> >

> > Q. How long has West Nile virus been in the U.S.?

> > A. It is not known how long it has been in the U.S., but CDC

> scientists

> > believe the virus has probably been in the eastern U.S. since the

> early

> > summer of 1999, possibly longer.

> >

> > Transmission of West Nile Virus

> >

> > Q. How do people get West Nile encephalitis?

> > A. People become infected by the bite of a mosquitoes infected

with

> West Nile

> > virus.

> >

> > Q. If I live in an area where birds or mosquitoes with West Nile

> virus have

> > been reported and a mosquito bites me, am I likely to get sick?

> > A. No. Even in areas where mosquitoes do carry the virus, very

few

> > mosquitoesÑmuch less than 1%Ñare infected. If the mosquito is

> infected, less

> > than 1% of people who get bitten and become infected will get

> severely ill.

> > The chances you will become severely ill from any one mosquito

bite

> are

> > extremely small.

> >

> > Q. How many types of animals have been found to be infected with

> West Nile

> > virus?

> > A. Although the vast majority of infections have been identified

> in birds,

> > WN virus has been shown to infect horses, cats, bats, chipmunks,

> skunks,

> > squirrels, and domestic rabbits.

> >

> > Q. How does West Nile virus actually cause severe illness and

death

> in

> > humans?

> > A. Following transmission by an infected mosquito, West Nile

virus

> multiplies

> > in the person's blood system and crosses the blood-brain barrier

to

> reach the

> > brain. The virus interferes with normal central nervous system

> functioning

> > and causes inflammation of brain tissue.

> >

> > Prevention of West Nile Virus

> >

> > Q. Is there a vaccine against West Nile encephalitis?

> > A. No, but several companies are working towards developing a

> vaccine.

> >

> > Q. What can I do to reduce my risk of becoming infected with West

> Nile virus?

> > A.

> > * Stay indoors at dawn, dusk, and in the early evening.

> > * Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants whenever you are

> outdoors.

> > * Spray clothing with repellents containing permethrin or DEET

> since

> > mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing.

> > * Apply insect repellent sparingly to exposed skin. An effective

> repellent

> > will contain 35% DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide). DEET in high

> > concentrations (greater than 35%) provides no additional

protection.

> > * Repellents may irritate the eyes and mouth, so avoid applying

> repellent to

> > the hands of children.

> > * Whenever you use an insecticide or insect repellent, be sure to

> read and

> > follow the manufacturer's DIRECTIONS FOR USE, as printed on the

> product.

> > * Note: Vitamin B and " ultrasonic " devices are NOT effective in

> preventing

> > mosquito bites.

> >

> > Symptoms of West Nile Virus

> >

> > Q. Who is at risk for getting West Nile encephalitis?

> > A. All residents of areas where virus activity has been

identified

> are at

> > risk of getting West Nile encephalitis; persons older than 50

years

> have the

> > highest risk of severe disease.

> >

> > Q. What are the symptoms of West Nile encephalitis?

> > A. Most infections are mild, and symptoms include fever,

headache,

> and body

> > aches, occasionally with skin rash and swollen lymph glands. More

> severe

> > infection may be marked by headache, high fever, neck stiffness,

> stupor,

> > disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness,

> paralysis, and,

> > rarely, death.

> >

> > Q. What is the incubation period in humans (i.e., time from

> infection to

> > onset of disease symptoms) for West Nile encephalitis?

> > A. Usually 3 to 15 days.

> >

> > Testing and Treating West Nile Encephalitis in Humans

> >

> > Q. I think I have symptoms of West Nile virus. What should I do?

> > A. Contact your health care provider if you have concerns about

> your health.

> > If you or your family members develop symptoms such as high

fever,

> confusion,

> > muscle weakness, and severe headaches, you should see your doctor

> > immediately.

> >

> >

> >

> > For more information:

> > <A HREF= " http://newsletters.keepkidshealthy.com/cgi-

> bin/knowwhat.cgi?

l=welcome/infectionsguide/west_nile_virus.html " >West

> Nile Virus</A>

> >

> >

> > <A HREF= " http://newsletters.keepkidshealthy.com/cgi-

> bin/knowwhat.cgi " >more Know What topics</A>

> >

> >

> > <A HREF= " http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/ " >Visit

> keepkidshealthy.com</A>