How does West Nile Virus actually cause sever illness and death in humans?
Following transmission by an infected mosquito, West Nile virus multiplies in the person’s blood system and crosses the blood-brain barrier to reach the brain. The virus interferes with normal central nervous system functioning and causes inflammation of brain tissue. Q: What are the Symptoms of West Nile Virus? (Statistics provided by CDC) A: West Nile Virus affects the central nervous system. Symptoms vary. • No Symptoms. Approximately 80 percent of people who are infected with the West Nile Virus will not show any symptoms at all. • Mild Symptoms. Up to 20 percent of the people who become infected will display mild symptoms, including fever, headaches, and body aches, nausea, vomiting and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back. Symptoms typically last a few days. • Serious Symptoms. The severe symptoms can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and
