Why west nile virus affects each infected individual differently

A study as to why the West Nile virus affects each infected individual differently

CONTENTS

Introduction

Research Question

Methodology

Research Team

Funding

Leadership Skills

Possible Challenges

Summary

Introduction A recurrent disease that has plagued the United States for several years now is the West Nile virus . It has caused a drain on the country 's health resources as well as a constant problem to effectively control its outbreaks . The disease shows many effects that vary from person to person , and as such is a

hassle to treat

Mackenzie , Gubler Petersen (2004 ) suggested that the West Nile Virus derives its name from the West Nile district of Uganda . It is also known as Kunjin virus and is widely distributed throughout Africa Middle East , parts of Europe and the former Soviet Union , South and central Asia , Australia , North America , Caribbean and

Mexico (C . G . Hayes , 2001

The West Nile virus is a zoonotic disease . Zoonotic diseases are disease that can be transmitted to humans from animals . This virus is a close relative of St . Louis encephalitis virus and is transmitted by mosquitoes primarily of the Culex genus (Weir Shapiro , 2004

The West Nile Virus (WNV ) causes avian encephalitis (Kreil , 2004 .In humans , symptoms could occur within 3 to 15 days after bite of the infected mosquito . Symptoms include mild illness , fever , headache maculopapular rash , conjunctivitis (irritation of the eye gastrointestinal symptoms and lymphadenopathy . Meningitis , West Nile encephalitis particularly the elderly and myelitis may also occur . It could be fatal . However only less than one percent of infected persons will develop severe illness (Briese Bernard , 2005

The west nile virus has common epidemic recurrence and as such is a serious consideration to a countries health assessment . It 's unpredictable effects make it difficult to fully control its outbreak Thus this research project aims to find out what causes these effects so that study on their treatment and prevention can be undergone The West Nile virus is a member of the family Flaviviridae (genus Flavivirus ) that requires a blood-sucking arthropod to complete its life cycle (Mackenzie et al , 2004 . The main course of the disease is a bird-mosquito-bird cycle , with birds as the primary amplifying hosts "West Nile virus : what 's the buzz " 2000 . Vertebrate hosts like humans and horses are incidental hosts and play a minor role in the transmission of the disease . Bird migration , random bird dispersal movements or both were responsible for the westward spread of the virus (Briese Bernard , 2005 Mosquitoes mostly of the Culex spp . transmit WNV . The main mosquito species are Cx . univittatus in Afica and the middle East Cx . pipiens Cx . modestus and Coquillettidia richiardii are important in Europe Cx tritaeniorhynchus , Cx . vishnui , and Cx . Quinquefasciatus in Asia Cx pipiens , Cx . quinquefasciatus , Cx . restuans tarsalis in

North America . Non-culex that are also important in some areas are Aedes albocehalus or Mimomyia spp . in Africa and the Middle East (Mackenzie et al , 2004 Some factors that affect the spread of the virus include weather presence of infected vectors...