West Nile Virus Triggers High Alert in Kerala

May 13, 2024

The mosquito-borne disease known as West Nile Virus (WNV) has recently made headlines in Kerala. Twelve confirmed cases and four suspected cases have been reported in the southern state in the past several weeks. The health minister, Veena George, and other officials have increased their vigilance and promised to take action to contain the disease and treat those who are sick.

Transmission of WNV

West Nile virus (WNV) is transmitted by the Culex mosquito and its offspring, which are vectors of the virus. The virus is passed from one individual to another through the feeding of mosquitoes on sick birds, which are regularly moving from one location to another. The virus can infect humans after an incubation period if a mosquito bites a human. Additional routes of transmission include transfusions of blood, gestational transmission from mother to kid, and laboratory settings. On the other hand, coming into touch with sick people or animals won’t cause it to spread.

First Outbreak of WNV in India

The first WNV case in India was in 1952 in Mumbai. Since then, southern and central regions have had rare occurrences and outbreaks. This virus continues to threaten public health, as the entire genome sequence of WNV was found in samples from a severe encephalitis epidemic in Kerala in 2011.

Symptoms

Mild Symptoms: Fever, headache, and body aches may emerge once West Nile Virus (WNV) enters the human body, or the virus may stay asymptomatic.
Severe Neurological Issues: Encephalitis (brain inflammation) and meningitis (inflammation of the brain and spinal cord membranes) are two potentially fatal neurological consequences that can develop in extreme instances of WNV.
Incubation Period: The incubation time of the virus can vary, although it usually falls somewhere between three and fourteen days following exposure.

Preventive Measures

There is currently no vaccination that can protect against West Nile virus. To protect oneself from catching West Nile virus, the most straightforward method is to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes. It is possible to eliminate mosquitoes both inside and outside by using bug spray, treating clothing and equipment, and wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants. These are all effective methods.

About West Nile virus

The virus that causes West Nile fever is called the West Nile virus (WNV), and it is a single-stranded RNA virus. Among the several viruses that belong to the genus Flavivirus, which also includes the Zika virus, dengue virus, and yellow fever virus, this particular virus is a member of the family Flaviviridae. It is mostly spread to people by the bites of sick mosquitoes, the Culex species. It was first seen in Uganda in 1937, and since then it has spread to North America, Europe, Africa, and West Asia. People, horses, and other animals can get the virus, but it lives in birds.

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