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Essay on West Nile Fever

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West Nile Fever

What is West Nile Fever? West Nile fever also known as West Nile virus is a mosquito borne disease transferred from mosquito to person. Encephalitis is a disease that West nile virus can cause. What encephalitis does is it causes inflammation of the brain which in some cases can be fatal. The west Nile virus wasn’t discovered until 1937 in Africa. The disease didn’t make its way into the United States until 1999. The Virus is most common during the summer months (July- September) which is when mosquitos the carrier of the disease are most active. But in some states it is at risk all year round. Most people who are bitten and infected even receive the virus.
The West Nile Virus often doesn’t show its victims signs that …show more content…

This affects a person’s daily life because it doesn’t allow them to do everyday things. Those with certain medical conditions like diabetes and cancer are at a greater risk for serious illness.
There is no specific antiviral treatment or vaccine for West Nile Virus. There are over the counter pills that you can buy to reduce and relieve some of the symptoms. If cases become sever patients can go to the hospital and receive supportive treatment like intravenous fluid, nursing care, and pain medication.
You can receive West Nile Virus at any age in your life. For younger kids it is harder to experience the symptoms of the disease because they have really high immune systems. Older people are more at risk for the disease because there immune system is very low compared to younger kids. People with HIV and AIDS are at an even higher risk of getting the disease since they have almost no immune system.
The United States has spent eight hundred million dollars alone combating the West Nile Virus. Most outbreaks that occur cost about one hundred million dollars for each outbreak that occurs. The cost of medicine and hospitalization depends on how severe the disease is. For some people there body fights off the disease and they just need a day of rest at home. In some severe cases people can spend multiple nights in the hospital receiving antibodies which can cost up to a few hundred dollars depending on how long your stay is and how much your

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