Five cases of West Nile virus infestation this season

V. Stoica

The rural area – where disinfestation in the public domain is a real luxury – seems to be preferred by mosquitoes infested with West Nile virus if we take into account early season cases where insects can transmit various diseases.
According to the National Center for Communicable Disease Control and Control, during the 2018 season, between May 2 and July 24, there were five cases of West Nile virus infection, but no deaths occurred during the reference period. According to the same source, the five confirmed cases were recorded among men, four of the five cases being in rural areas.
The Public Health Department of Prahova presented at the end of last week what measures should be taken to reduce the possibility of infection with West Nile virus: avoid contact with mosquitoes, wear clothing with installing mosquito nets on windows to prevent mosquitoes from entering houses, but also by removing ponds around households or places where animals are grown, and there may be lakes with mosquito nets . permanent signs of spread of mosquitoes
Signs that may indicate infection with West Nile virus include fever, myalgia, headache, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, maculopapular rash. DSP Prahova states that less than 1% of patients experience neurological manifestations of meningoencephalitis by affecting the central nervous system. Neuroinvasive disease is characterized by high fever, headache, neck revulsion, disorientation, coma, tremors, seizures, muscle weakness, vision loss, loss of sensation and paralysis, Severe progression and neurological sequelae. In these cases, mortality is 10%, among the risk factors for developing neurological manifestations over 50 years old and immunocompromised patients. Clinical symptoms appear after an interval of 2-14 days from the moment of infection
According to data provided by representatives of the Prahova Department of Public Health, the natural cycle of disease transmission involves birds (natural reservoir of the virus) and mosquitoes. ) that transmit stinging infections to humans and animals (considered as accidental hosts). The same source states that, although in most cases transmission is by mosquitoes, in a very small number of cases West Nile virus (WNV) can be transmitted from person to person through transfusion. blood, organ transplant and even breastfeeding. during pregnancy from mother to fetus