West Nile Virus And Public Safety

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West Nile Virus and Public Safety

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to expand the boundaries of our knowledge by exploring some relevant information relating to the analysis of West Nile Virus and Public Safety. The West Nile virus (WNV) is transmitted by mosquitoes; it causes an infection, which in rare cases can cause serious illness. Mosquitoes become infected with West Nile virus when it bites a bird infected with the virus. Eradication is not possible by contemporary means and a universal vaccination plan is not economically feasible (at least at this time). Thus, a stratification scheme must be employed if an efficient and cost-effective vaccination program is to be developed. The scheme proposed in these pages relies on demographic factors, such as age and chronic disease status. Other factors of interest are population location with respect to time and diverse predictors represented in data collected by the public health sector. In this paper, the author has investigated on the risk factors of West Nile virus on human being. The author has also executed Epidemiologic Investigation of West Nile Virus in the United States. Finally, various vaccination procedures were also examined to ensure public safety.

West Nile Virus and Public Safety

Introduction

WNV is originally a virus that is found in birds, most species includes raven, crow and blue jay. The virus is spread when an infected mosquito bites a reptile, amphibian or mammal, including humans. While most cases are self-limited febrile illnesses, individuals at higher risk, such as the chronically ill and elderly, potentially suffer increased mortality and morbidity. The worst outcome is development of neuroinvasive disease, causing permanent disability or death. Recent research from the University of Texas in Houston has demonstrated evidence for the potential development of chronic renal infections with some individuals shedding viral RNA for years after their initial febrile illness has subsided. While more research is needed to understand the mechanisms of chronic infection, this would suggest that WNV is not self-limited in all people. Moreover, much like polio, the sequelae of neuroinvasive cases could make a persuasive argument for vaccination (Oliphant, 2006).Many of those infected have no symptoms when they are infected, but some people, especially if they are elderly or if their immune system is weakened, may experience the following symptoms:

symptoms related to flu-like fever, frontal headache, muscle aches and sometimes rash;

other symptoms may include neck stiffness, muscle weakness, stupor, disorientation, coma etc

It takes three to fifteen days before symptoms appear. The mosquitoes , and in particular the “Culex” are the main carriers of the virus, and all the factors that favor the proliferation of mosquitoes as heavy rainfall, irrigation or high temperatures then increase the number of cases of infection. The birds, both migratory and domestic, play a crucial role in the dissemination of the virus: migratory birds allow the movement of the virus from Africa to the temperate zones. The Health Sector of the Ministry of Welfare proposed a monitoring plan for West Nile virus. The ordinance, which is valid until December 31, 2010, also ...
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