What Is West Nile? A Virus Infecting Hundreds Of People In Israel

Illustration of viral infection (photo: Pixabay/Tumisu)

YOGYAKARTA In this article it will be discussed what the West Nile virus is, a deadly virus that infects hundreds of people in Israel.

According to a report by Xinhua Net, since early May 2024, there have been 153 Israelis infected with the West Nile virus, eight of whom died.

West Nile virus infections can cause symptoms similar to the flu. The symptoms that arise can be fever, headache, weakness, joint and muscle pain, conjunctivitis, rash, nausea, and diarrhea.

In general, West Nile virus infection is considered a mild disease. However, it can cause severe illness, even death.

So, what is the West Nile virus? Check out the full information below.

Compiled from various sources, the West Nile virus is a pathogen that causes infections that live in the wild. This virus is usually transmitted by mosquitoes and is widely spread among birds.

The West Nile virus is included in the flavivirus group along with the St. Encephalitis virus. Louis and Powasan.

The spread of this disease is started when mosquitoes bite birds infected with the West Nile virus. The virus then lives in the mosquito's body.

In the next stage, mosquitoes that are infected will transmit the virus to animals and humans.

According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the West Nile virus generally spreads to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. However, there are a small number of cases where the virus spreads through blood transfuse, organ donation, or from mother to baby during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding.

Some people infected with the West Nile virus don't show any symptoms. Some of them are feeling pain, with symptoms like:

These symptoms usually last for a few days to several weeks.

The CDC added that some people can experience more serious illness. Adults over the age of 60 or people with certain medical conditions are more likely to be seriously ill.

More severe West Nile virus infections can lead to symptoms such as:

To date, there is no special drug that can treat West Nile virus infection. Various efforts have been made to provide intravenous antibody infusions called IVIG and interferon drugs.

This drug is given with the aim of strengthening the immune system, which helps eliminate the spread of the virus in the body.

That's information about what the West Nile virus is. Get news updates of other options only on VOI.ID.