When was West Nile virus discovered in the West Nile district of Uganda?

Outbreaks. West Nile Virus (WNV) was first isolated in a woman in the West Nile district of Uganda in 1937. It was identified in birds (crows and columbiformes) in Nile delta region in 1953.

Where is West Nile the worst?

During the years between 1999 and 2010, an estimate of 3 million people have been infected in the United States. Highest incidence rates are observed in states of the central great plains, with South Dakota, Wyoming and North Dakota leading in incidence.

Where was the first case of West Nile?

Discovery. The West Nile Virus (WNV) was first found in a febrile adult woman in the West Nile District of Uganda in 1937. The virus became recognized as a cause of severe human meningoencephalitis (inflammation of the spinal cord and brain) in elderly patients during an outbreak in Israel in 1957.

What year was the West Nile virus outbreak?

The 2002 outbreak in North America was unprecedented in terms of the number of cases and geographic spread of the virus. Historical patterns of WNV provide few indications as to the future behavior of WNV in North America.

Does West Nile virus weaken immune system?

West Nile virus evades the body’s immune defenses by blocking immune signaling by a protein receptor, a finding that could pave the way for a vaccine to protect against North American strains of the virus, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers report.

What are the long term side effects of West Nile virus?

The most common long-term effects are depression, tremors, fatigue, memory problems, extremity weakness, word-finding difficulty and headaches. Since WNV arrived in North America in 1999, it has become the most common arboviral infection in the continent.

How long does West Nile rash last?

Rash associated with WNV infection usually appears 3–7 days after the onset of symptoms and accompanies the onset of fever. It lasts between 7 and 14 days and resolves with improvement of other symptoms.

Where did the name West Nile virus come from?

West Nile virus was first identified in 1937 in Uganda in eastern Africa. It was first discovered in the United States in the summer of 1999 in New York. Since then, the virus has spread throughout the US. Researchers believe West Nile virus is spread when a mosquito bites an infected bird and then bites a person.

Is West Nile virus a pandemic?

What Is West Nile Virus? West Nile virus infection can cause serious disease. WNV is established as a seasonal epidemic in North America that flares up in the summer and continues into the fall.

How long does West Nile last?

Your body has to fight the infection on its own. In mild cases of West Nile, symptoms usually last for 3 to 6 days, and you can recover at home. If you get a more severe case of West Nile, symptoms can last for weeks or months, and you may need to stay in the hospital so you can get medicine to help you recover.

Where was the first case of West Nile virus?

West Nile Virus (WNV) is a member of the flavivirus genus and belongs to the Japanese encephalitis antigenic complex of the family Flaviviridae. West Nile Virus (WNV) was first isolated in a woman in the West Nile district of Uganda in 1937.

What are the side effects of West Nile virus?

Complications from severe West Nile virus infection include: Brain damage. Permanent muscle weakness (sometimes similar to polio) Death.

How is the West Nile virus related to Japanese encephalitis?

The virus is genetically related to the Japanese encephalitis family of viruses. Humans and horses both exhibit disease symptoms from the virus, and symptoms rarely occur in other animals. Identification of the human disease was first made in 1937 in Uganda and in the later half of the 20th century spread to many other parts of the world.

What kind of birds are killed by West Nile virus?

Some birds, including the American crow ( Corvus brachyrhynchos ), blue jay ( Cyanocitta cristata) and greater sage-grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus ), are killed by the infection, but others survive.