The Asian tiger mosquito is a West Nile Virus vector.
The abundance of rainfall this spring and early summer has made conditions ideal for breeding mosquitoes that can carry the West Nile Virus.
West Nile Virus (WNV) is a flavivirus commonly found in Africa, West Asia, and the Middle East. It is closely related to St. Louis encephalitis virus found in the United States. The virus can infect humans, birds, mosquitoes, horses and some other mammals.
The virus is a potentially serious illness, transmitted to humans and other mammals through the bite of an infected mosquito. Outbreaks of WNV occur during the summer months when mosquito activity is high.
Signs and symptoms of infection
Four out of five people infected with WNV will not show signs or symptoms.
One out of five people infected with WNV will show mild symptoms to include:
fever
headache
body aches
nausea
vomiting
swollen lymph glands
skin rash on the chest, stomach and back
These mild symptoms could last for as short as a few days to as long as a few weeks.
One out of 150 people infected with the WNV will develop severe illness. Severe symptoms can include
high fever
headache
neck stiffness
stupor
disorientation
coma
tremors
convulsions
muscle weakness
vision loss
numbness and paralysis.
Symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects may be permanent.
Who’s at risk for WNV?
Young children and the elderly are always at a greater risk of developing severe illness than others. The more times a person spends outside, the greater the person’s risk of contracting WNV, as well as other viruses transmitted by mosquitoes.
How you can prevent exposure
People can decrease their chances of exposure to WNV by limiting their time spent outdoors during periods when mosquitoes are most active, which is usually at dusk and dawn.
Also, reduce the amount of exposed skin by wearing loose-fitting long sleeves and pants.
Apply insect repellants containing DEET, an EPA-approved repellant found in common products sold in local stores.
Standing water should also be drained from any visible area, such as tires, tarps and buckets.Without the water, mosquitoes cannot breed.
What role do we play?
At Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the Environmental Health Section of Preventive Medicine conducts surveillance and monitoring of mosquito activity during peak periods to ensure prompt awareness and safety of personnel within the Walter Reed Health Care System. As always, education is the best prevention method available. Information is available on the Environmental Health Web site on the WRAMC intranet, or call (202) 782-3962 for more information.
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