West Nile Virus

West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus virus that can cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord).1You’re probably wondering “what is a flavivirus?” A flavivirus is a positive-stranded RNA which can be transmitted to humans or animals by infected ticks or mosquitoes. There are about 70 different flaviviruses comprised into one group. The most well known cause yellow fever, dengue, Japanese encephalitis, tick-borne …

…require any specific treatment or testing. In the more severe cases, hospitalization may be needed.11 In conclusion, the West Nile virus has become a serious outbreak in the United States over the past several months. We should definitely take precautions to prevent further outbreaks. Ways that you can do this is avoid unnecessary outdoor activity when mosquitoes are most prevalent, such as dawn, dusk and early evening, wear long sleeves, and use an insect repellent.