West Nile Virus is an arbovirus (arthropod borne virus) that is spread by mosquitoes. It has infected 76 North Dakota residents this year alone. I know this because I am number 76. Being the outdoorsman that I am, I must have been bitten by a mosquito carrying the disease while out goose hunting or sampling insects in a wetland. I started feeling ill a few weeks ago, and me being my stubborn self, didn't go to the doctor right away. I was fatigued in the evenings and this was often accompanied by a headache. I noticed last week that several lymph nodes in my neck were swollen.This is not normal for me as I am usually in good health and don't suffer from headaches unless I had too much fun at the bar the night before. I visited the doctor on Tuesday and he requested that I have some blood work done. They informed me today that the test was positive.
West Nile Virus was first detected in the United States in 1999. There is no cure for West Nile Virus at this time, although there are some experimental treatments that exist. Infected individuals should treat the symptoms as needed until the virus is no longer in the body. Most cases of West Nile Virus aren't severe and symptoms range from fever and headache to fatigue and swollen lymph nodes. My case seems to be at this point, mild.
In less than one percent of cases, people can develop a life threatening illness that can include swelling of the brain. The symptoms can be fever, severe headaches and disorientation. Although I don't feel very well, I haven't experienced any of these severe symptoms.
This is a lesson to anyone that is stubborn like me. If you're not feeling well, go to the doctor. There is nothing that can be done except rest and take ibuprofen, but at least I know what is wrong with me.
And this is why I keep saying that mosquitoes would be the first things to go in the world if I could choose something to get rid of. Honestly I was surprised by this years number of West Nile cases. I know the state has had issues with the disease for the past few years--at least that's when I started to notice--but this year we didn't have an over abundance of mosquitoes, and that's why it's so hard to fathom the cases. It's super unfortunate for you that you got it, but for someone like me who didn't know any symptoms or sign of West Nile, I now know what to look for in the case that I get attacked by a swarm of blood suckers.
ReplyDeleteWest Nile isn't something to be fooled around with. Like you said it can be very dangerous to someone that is stubborn. Many people have died from this and a close friend of mine was hospitalized and was in critical condition. I make sure to put on mosquito spray when they do come out, just as a precaution.
ReplyDeleteThis story really hits home with me. This past August my dad was diagnosed with West Nile. For a week straight all he did was sleep. He is feeling a lot better now, but he is still feeling the effects of it. The strange thing was that this summer it seemed like there weren't many mosquitoes around. It is a scary thing and it is nothing to mess around with.
ReplyDeleteIf you look at the size of a mosquito it is really crazy that it has the capability to carry such a threatening disease. I myself have personally never had the west nile virus but quickly learned in high school what it was as that year their was a few cases involving students and teacher's. It's funny to think when you get bit by a bug like a mosquito that it could have the capability to carry an air born disease, this is why I think we as the public should be more aware of the disease's bugs can carry from person to person, I've actually heard of stories were a mosquito bit someone that had aids and then spread the disease to someone else, not sure if it is true or not but if it is that's something to be aware of come mosquito season.
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