West Nile Fever | 10 May 2024

Source: TH

Why in News?

The detection of West Nile fever in 3 Kerala districts has prompted health authorities to issue alerts and intensify preventive measures.

What is West Nile Fever?

• About:
  • It is caused by the West Nile virus (WNV), a single-stranded RNA virus that is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito (Mosquitoes of the genus Culex are generally considered the principal vectors of WNV) and Birds serve as reservoir hosts.
    • The virus is a member of the Flaviviridae family and the flavivirus genus.
  • The virus is commonly found in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America, and West Asia.
  • It was first isolated in a woman in the West Nile district of Uganda in 1937. It was identified in birds in the Nile Delta region in 1953, according to the World Health Organization.
• Transmission:
  • Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds, subsequently transmitting the virus to humans and animals through bites.
  • The virus may also be transmitted through contact with other infected animals, their blood, or other tissues.
  • Rare cases of transmission through organ transplant, blood transfusions, and transplacental transmission.
  • No human-to-human transmission of WNV through casual contact has been documented.
• Symptoms:
  • Asymptomatic in about 80% of cases.
  • Symptoms of West Nile fever include fever, headache, tiredness, body aches, nausea, vomiting, and skin rash.
  • Severe cases may lead to neurological symptoms such as neck stiffness, stupor, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis.
• Treatment
  • Supportive care for neuro-invasive cases involves hospitalization, intravenous fluids, and respiratory support.
  • No vaccine is available for humans.
• India’s Initiatives:
  • National Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme.
  • Integrated Vector Management (IVM).
  • National Framework for Malaria Elimination.