West Nile Fever

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The Kerala government raised a warning, about West Nile fever following news of a fatality. Around eight cases in Kozhikode, Malappuram and Thrissur districts has been registered. Cases have been sporadically reported in these regions since 2011 with incidents prompting increased vigilance.

West Nile fever

West Nile Virus (WNV) is a disease transmitted by mosquitoes. It is caused by a flavivirus, which is related to viruses that also cause diseases, like St. Louis encephalitis, Japanese encephalitis and yellow fever. It is commonly found in regions such as Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America and West Asia where mosquito populations active. Temperatures are favourable for the virus to spread.

Indian Scenario:

In India, cases of WNV have been recorded in states since 1952 in Mumbai. The virus has been identified in both mosquitoes and humans across areas indicating its presence and potential for transmission.

Transmission:

Mosquitoes are the carriers of WNV with birds serving as hosts for the virus. Infected mosquitoes spread the virus to humans and animals through bites.

Symptoms:

It can vary from flu symptoms to severe neurological conditions like encephalitis or meningitis. While most cases show no symptoms severe cases can be deadly for people with weakened systems.

Preventive measures:

It include monitoring systems to identify cases in animals warning systems for public health authorities and deferral or testing of blood donors in affected regions. At present there is no treatment or vaccine, for WNV; therefore supportive care remains crucial in managing severe cases.