What is West Nile virus and how does it affect humans?
West Nile (WN) virus is carried by mosquitoes and if transmitted to humans, can cause serious encephalitis. It is closely related to St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) virus which is sometimes a problem in Florida. West Nile virus was first reported in 1937 from a woman in the West Nile province of Uganda in Central Africa. Epidemics of WN have occurred in Israel, France, South Africa, and Romania. West Nile virus was first documented in the United States in New York City (NYC) during an epidemic in August 1999. The disease caused by the virus is know as encephalitis and can be severe in the elderly, but it is usually mild in healthy adults and children. Humans infected with WN virus can experience mild to severe symptoms including elevated fever that comes on quickly and lasts from 5 to 6 days. Other symptoms include severe headache, a rash, swollen lymph nodes, gastrointestinal problems and pain associated with the eyes, muscles, and back. In serious cases, the symptoms of encephalitis can
