Health Matters: West Nile Virus Signs And Symptoms

West Nile season is well underway, with cases already popping up in places like Wahpeton and Fargo.
 
While West Nile Virus can be a serious and sometimes deadly disease, the majority of the time, that’s not the case.

I spoke with an Infectious Disease Physician who says close to 80 percent of people usually don’t even show symptoms.
 
“During the summer season from June to September, West Nile is most common in North Dakota,” says Essentia Health Infectious Disease Physician, Dr. Prakash Kafle.
 
Birds are first infected with the virus and will then pass it on to mosquitoes.
 
“When you are noticing a lot of dead birds in your community that is some alarming signs for the spread of West Nile virus,” says Kafle.
 
But even if you are bit by a mosquito carrying the disease, odds are you won’t even know it.
 
“A little bit of low grade fever, a little bit of body ache may happen but that is self-limiting in 80 percent of the cases,” says Kafle.
 
The other 19 percent of cases will suffer from West Nile Fever.
 
“They’ll get a body ache, they’ll get fatigued tired, and all these symptoms and get resolved by itself in seven to ten days,” says Kafle.
 
But there’s still a remaining one percent of the population and in that case, the brain is affected.
 
“Manifested by confusion, unable to speak, unable to respond, paralysis and all these symptoms,” says Kafle.
 
It’s one bite that many might not even notice and for others it could be debilitating.

While there is no treatment available, Dr. Kafle is optimistic about that changing.
 
“Wouldn’t be surprised if we had a vaccine in the coming few years,” says Kafle.

Dr. Kafle says if you are experiencing fever or fatigue he says with rest and ibuprofen those symptoms should go away within seven to ten days.

If symptoms worsen or if you experience confusion, he says to visit your primary care physician.