West
Nile Virus
Fact Sheet
What
is West Nile virus?
West Nile virus
is a mosquito-borne viral infection that can cause inflammation of the
brain. It is named after the West Nile district of Uganda where the virus
was first isolated in 1937. The viruses that cause West Nile virus and
St. Louis encephalitis come from the same family of flaviviruses, and
cause diseases that are similar to one another.
Has
West Nile virus been found in Connecticut?
In 1999, West Nile virus was found in two species of mosquitoes trapped
in Greenwich and in the brain tissue of many crows in coastal Connecticut
from Greenwich to Madison. Most of the crows had evidence of encephalitis.
Have
there been any human cases of West Nile virus in Connecticut?
The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) has asked physicians
to report suspect cases of West Nile fever admitted to the hospital to
the DPH so that testing for West Nile virus can be done. In 1999, 78 persons
were tested in Connecticut. None were positive.
How
do people get West Nile virus?
West Nile virus, like St. Louis Encephalitis virus, is spread to humans
by the bite of infected mosquitoes (primarily the Culex species). A mosquito
is infected by biting a bird that carries the virus. West Nile virus is
not spread by person-to-person contact, or directly from birds to persons.
What
are the symptoms of West Nile virus?
Most people who are infected have no symptoms or may experience mild illness
such as a fever and headache before fully recovering. In some individuals,
particularly the elderly, West Nile virus can cause serious disease that
affects the central nervous system. At its most serious, it can cause
permanent neurological damage and can be fatal. Symptoms generally occur
5-15 days following the bite of an infected mosquito, and range from a
slight fever, headache, rash, swollen nodes and conjunctivitis (irritation
of the lining of the eye) to the rapid onset of severe headache, high
fever, stiff neck, disorientation, muscle weakness, coma, or death.
West
Hartford-Bloomfield Health District
693-C Bloomfield Avenue
Bloomfield, CT 06002
Ph: (860) 561-7900
Fax: (860) 561-7918
