Asked by daniel
In this assignment you will expand your knowledge of causes of disease and disease spread by exploring diseases you have probably heard of or seen on the news.
Read the article and use the information to answer the following questions.
West Nile Virus
How does the West Nile virus spread?
Who is at risk of becoming ill from West Nile virus?
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How does the West Nile virus spread?
- West Nile virus is primarily spread to people through the bite of an infected mosquito (mainly Culex species). Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds, which are the main reservoir.
- Less commonly, infection has occurred through blood transfusions, organ transplants, exposure in laboratory settings, and rarely from mother to baby (during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding). It is not spread by casual person-to-person contact (e.g., touching, kissing, coughing).
Who is at risk of becoming ill from West Nile virus?
- Most people (about 4 out of 5) who are infected have no symptoms. About 1 in 5 infected people develop West Nile fever (fever, headache, body aches, sometimes rash and swollen glands).
- A small proportion (less than 1% — roughly 1 in 150 infected people) develop severe neuroinvasive disease (meningitis, encephalitis, or paralysis).
- Risk for severe disease is higher in older adults (risk increases substantially with age, especially over 50–65), and in people with weakened immune systems or certain underlying conditions (for example, cancer, diabetes, kidney disease, or receiving immunosuppressive therapies).
- People who spend time outdoors in areas with infected mosquitoes (especially at dawn and dusk) have higher exposure risk.
- West Nile virus is primarily spread to people through the bite of an infected mosquito (mainly Culex species). Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds, which are the main reservoir.
- Less commonly, infection has occurred through blood transfusions, organ transplants, exposure in laboratory settings, and rarely from mother to baby (during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding). It is not spread by casual person-to-person contact (e.g., touching, kissing, coughing).
Who is at risk of becoming ill from West Nile virus?
- Most people (about 4 out of 5) who are infected have no symptoms. About 1 in 5 infected people develop West Nile fever (fever, headache, body aches, sometimes rash and swollen glands).
- A small proportion (less than 1% — roughly 1 in 150 infected people) develop severe neuroinvasive disease (meningitis, encephalitis, or paralysis).
- Risk for severe disease is higher in older adults (risk increases substantially with age, especially over 50–65), and in people with weakened immune systems or certain underlying conditions (for example, cancer, diabetes, kidney disease, or receiving immunosuppressive therapies).
- People who spend time outdoors in areas with infected mosquitoes (especially at dawn and dusk) have higher exposure risk.
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