Dengue Fever is a well-known arbovirus infection persistently affecting the tropical and subtropical areas sharing similar characteristics of overcrowding, clammy warm climate, poor economic and moving toward industrialization. (1) The incidence of dengue fever is escalating each year mostly in Southeast Asia, America and the Pacific’s adding to the world’s burden of the disease (1,2) Dengue virus is a member of flavivirus genus family that includes also West Nile virus, yellow fever, zika and Japanese encephalitis virus (1). Four serotypes of dengue virus identified DENV 1-4 transmitted by the Aedes aegypti and Ades albopictus mosquitoes (3) Clinical diagnosis of dengue fever remains a challenge and requires high index of suspicion. This could be attributed to the non-specific signs and symptoms in acute phase which mimic many other febrile illnesses (1). It has a spectrum of symptoms ranging from mild self-limiting symptoms (fever, headache, retro-orbital pain, weakness, myalgia, arthralgia, nausea, vomiting, rash and sore throat) to severe life threatening; dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSH) (3,4). The disease has an incubation period of 2-7 days and has been classified into primary and secondary infection, depending on whether there is no previous exposure to dengue virus or flavivirus related vaccine (primary) or there is past exposure (secondary) (1,4).
While no definitive treatment for dengue fever and no vaccine available, early detection
In year 2013, CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) get report of 2605 cases as regards to noticeable arboviral disease, comprising those caused through 2469 cases of WNV (West Nile Virus), 85 cases of LACV, 22 cases of JCV, 8 cases of EEEV, and 15 cases of POWV, and cases of few other diseases. These cases were stated from 26 percent (830) among the 3141 nations of U.S., no cases were stated from Hawaii or Alaska. The WNV virus is having majority of cases from all other cases. Therefore, it is measured as a vital or serious disease. (Nicole P. Lindsey, 2014)
West Nile virus is the most significant exotic mosquito-borne disease that has come to the contiguous United States in the last century. Outbreaks have proven extremely difficult to predict and control and have been associated with considerable morbidity. The large outbreak in 2012, which caught many by surprise, indicates that West Nile virus will remain a formidable public health challenge for years to come (“FAQ: West Nile Virus,” par. 3).
By learning about different viruses in class, it sparked my interest in further researching a common virus known to the word called West Nile virus. Affiliated with the genus Flavivirus, this virus can be transported globally due to being classified as a mosquito-borne arbovirus1. Mosquitoes, belonging to the genus Culex, can facilitate the transportation of this pathogen by consuming the blood of an infected bird, being the main reservoir, and then passing it on to another animal or human1-3. Mosquito activity is at its peak during the months of summer and autumn, therefore these months depict the most cases of West Nile virus4. Humans play no role in the transportation as they are coined dead end hosts due to not being able to produce enough
West Nile Encephalitis is a West Nile Virus that causes inflammation of the brain. The viral family’s name is flaviviridae and genera flavivirus (Tortora. Funke. Case, 2010, p 376). The flavivirus genome consists of positive RNA single strand. However, the virus has acquired several mutations and research is ongoing (Tortora, Funke, Case, 2010 p 223). West Nile virus is an arthropod-borne virus and is transmitted to human beings through the bite of infected mosquitoes. It is the leading cause of domestically acquired arthropod-borne disease in the United States. (Nicole, 2014 para.1). According to the World Health Organization (2011), “Approximately 80% of people who are infected will not show any symptoms. However, less than 1% of the people who are infected will show severe symptoms resulting to a serious neurological illness like encephalitis.” (Center for Disease Control (2015)
West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne virus. The agent of West Nile is described as being a “mosquito-borne enveloped positive-strand RNA virus that emerged in 1999 in North America, specifically in New York City” (Public/Publisher Medline, 2015). Since its spread to North America it has continued to spread throughout the United States and even places such as Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. However, its first emergence was in 1937 in Uganda (Medline Plus, 2014). According to Pub Med, there are now more than 41,000 clinical cases of West Nile virus which also includes 1700 fatalities. Moreover there is an estimation of “3 million people in the United States that have been infected since last year” (Pub Med, 2015).
The public health system as increased capacity to be able to diagnose and monitor WNV infections in human, they can measure the transmission activity in vector mosquitoes, and put forth effective control plans for this virus. Incorporated in this plan is providing guidance to all health departments in being able to monitor and mitigate the WNV risk to humans. The surveillance of human disease continues nationwide to assess the impact that WNV is having on the human population. By itself, human disease surveillance is limited in its capability to predict the large focal outbreaks, which is a characteristic of this disease. Therefore, environmental surveillance is important in monitoring enzootic and epizootic WNV transmission in mosquitoes and birds (West Nile Virus, 2013). This creates a timelier index of risk and is extremely important for implementing effective WNV mitigation efforts. Through research and operational experience, we can show that increases in WNV infection rates in mosquito populations can give an indication of developing outbreak conditions several weeks ahead of
At present scientists from CSIRO research institute are studying mosquitoes and other insects that carry and transmit disease causing viruses in order to gain knowledge on the viruses they carry, how they develop immunity against them and how to best prevent or manage these animal and human health
The fever as spread all across America like a zombie infection most people are sick, then you get test that you have yellow fever, but the doctors can help you the french or the philly docs. The Philly doctors are from philly and think that they know what they are doing. The french are from a whole different place called Haiti. The philly doctors and the french that are fighting the yellow fever in 1793. The yellow fever was all over in the city of philadelphia. The fever came over on ships with people sick on board. The fever happens from mosquitoes biting people traveling blood to other people and makes yellow fever. By the end the around 2000-5000 people dead.
There is no vaccine to help prevent Zika. There is also currently no formal medication to treat the disease. Therefore, it is best to treat the symptoms. In addition, get a good amount of rest, prevent dehydration by drinking plenty of fluids, and take medication that reduces fever or pain such as paracetamol or acetaminophen (Tylenol®). When taking medication, do not take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like aspirin. NSAIDS could increase the risk of bleeding if dengue has not been ruled out. It is also important to talk to your healthcare provider before taking any medication if you are already taking medication for a separate
The most recent outbreak of the Zika Virus through Latin America and the Caribbean, and its association with microcephaly in newborns has attracted significant attention from researchers and health specialists. In 2013 and 2015, large outbreaks of the virus were respectively reported in French Polynesia and Brazil. In 1947, The Zika virus was first identified in Uganda in Rhesus monkeys. It was then identified in humans in 1952 in some parts of Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania The virus, also known as ZIKV, is an arbovirus of the Flaviviridae family, and is closely related to dengue, yellow fever and Chikungunya viruses (Al-Qahtani et al., 2016.); an arbovirus refers to a group of viruses transmitted by arthropod vectors (MedicineNet.com, 2016). The Zika disease is caused by the Zika virus that is primarily transmitted through a bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. Though the incubation period of Zika is not clear, it is estimated to be around 2-7 days after the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito (World Health Organization, 2016).
The yellow fever virus that was discovered in 3000 B.C.E has infected millions and killed many. It now has a vaccine, and prevention tips because it is significantly similar to the West Nile virus. These two viruses are spread by direct contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids and also mosquitos who carry the disease. They are more common in third world countries like “Africa and the region of South America” (CDC 4). This is a deadly disease that needs to be caught early and treated with extreme
Have you ever heard of a killer mosquito? In Alicia Campbell and H. Michael Dreher’s article, “A New Transcontinental Disease: The West Nile Virus,” they describe the virus’s origination, transmission, symptoms, treatment, how to avoid it, and the danger. The article was published in June of 2002 in Medsburg Nursing Journal, because the virus is growing rapidly throughout America. The virus first hit United States in New York in 1999, infecting sixty-two people. The authors inform us that it is still a mystery how the virus came to America. One thing is for sure, mosquitoes carry the virus, and they are responsible for the infections in humans.
The following is a brief description of the infection cycle. A person is bitten by an infected mosquito. The young parasite takes up residence in a lymph node or lymphatic vessel, then it matures into an adult producing microfilariae (larvae) that circulate in the blood. This damages the lymph node, eventually making it nonfunctional. The body’s lymphatic system is designed to fight infection, so the lymph nodes become inflamed and fevers result as the body struggles in vain to overcome this pathogen. In addition, lymphatic fluid
Yellow Fever virus (YVF) is an infectious disease that is transmitted by mosquitos that are infected with the virus. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) (2014), the term Yellow fever, derived from the jaundice that some patients with the virus experience. There is no cure for the virus and patients are treated on a case-by-case basis, depending on how severe the symptoms are and what stage the virus in in. YVF is rampant in tropical areas but is endemic in Africa and Latin America. YVF uses humans and non-human primates as a reservoir and there are three patterns of the virus that consist of the jungle (sylvatic), savannah(intermediate), and urban. A study done by Izurieta et al. on risk factors of YFV among military in the Amazonian rainforest included information on the jungle pattern of YFV. Izurieta et al. explains that the jungle pattern of YFV is transmitted by mosquitos that live on the crowns of trees. Izurieta et al. suggest that YFV is contracted by people who work with woodcutting. Additionally, there are high death rates of primates among howler monkeys in the State of Amazonas Brazil jungle that are correlated with YVF (Izurieta et al., 2009). While there is no cure for the YFV, there is a vaccine to prevent Yellow Fever. According to Bühlera, Jaegerb, Kling & Hatza (2014), the YFV vaccine is one of the vaccine that has a high rate of administration in travel medicine. Also, of those who have
After transmission, there are many different symptoms Rift Valley fever can cause when infecting its host. Not only can they differ between humans and animals, but within those units individuals can experience a wide variety of symptoms ranging from those as mild as headaches and nausea to those more extreme such as meningitis and death.