Kerala is currently on high alert due to the presence of the West Nile virus. The state health department has issued a warning to all districts to be prepared to combat this new mosquito-borne illness. They have been directed to increase pre-monsoon cleaning efforts and surveillance activities following recent cases of the fever.
In the northern district of Kozhikode, five individuals, including children, have tested positive for the virus, with one suspected case receiving treatment earlier. According to a report by The Times of India, all recovered patients have safely returned home, and there have been no new cases in the district as of now.
In addition to Kozhikode, Malappuram and Thrissur districts have also reported infections recently, as mentioned by an official in The Hindustan Times. Due to many cases being asymptomatic, the official tally of cases has not been released by the state health department.
Is West Nile fever a cause for concern? How can individuals stay prepared? Here’s what we know about the illness:
1. The West Nile Virus (WNV) is a single-strained RNA virus that originates in birds and is transmitted through the bite of infected Culex mosquitoes to humans and animals. Human-to-human transmission is unlikely.
2. Around 80% of infected individuals show no symptoms, but the remaining 20% may develop West Nile fever, according to the UN body.
3. Symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, fatigue, body aches, nausea, vomiting, occasional skin rash, and swollen lymph glands.
4. Severe infections can lead to neuroinvasive diseases such as West Nile encephalitis or meningitis, although they are rare.
5. Currently, there is no vaccine available for humans to combat the virus. Treatment typically involves supportive measures like hospitalization, intravenous fluids, and preventing secondary infections.
6. Apart from using mosquito repellents, health authorities in Kerala recommend cleaning stagnant water sources, which are common breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Kozhikode district collector Snehil Kumar Singh reassured, “There is no need for alarm right now. Cases of West Nile Fever have been managed in the district before, and there are no current hot spots.”
7. India has a history with the virus dating back to 1952 when antibodies against WNV were first discovered in humans in Mumbai. The virus has been documented in various regions across India, with Kerala first identifying it in 2006 and witnessing deaths from the virus in 2019 and 2022.
8. The origins of the disease can be traced back to Uganda in the 1930s, with a significant outbreak occurring in New York in 1999. The WHO notes that human infections from WNV have been reported globally for over 50 years, often following major bird migratory routes.
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