After mosquitoes recently tested positive for West Nile virus near Austin, Texas, a public health professional was concerned that the disease would be overlooked by the medical community amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Most people infected with the West Nile do not feel sick. However, one in five infected people develops fever and other symptoms such as headache, vomiting, or a rash, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An estimated one in 150 infected people develops a serious, life-threatening disease that affects the brain and spinal cord.
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For the new coronavirus, the CDC also lists fever, among other symptoms, such as stuffy or runny nose, nausea, diarrhea, chills, cough, and shortness of breath.
Williamson County officials in Texas said a group of mosquitoes in a regional park tested positive for the West Nile virus on July 9, although there has been no human case of the mosquito-borne disease in the county since 2017.
County vector management program leader Jason Fritz told Fox News that while about 80 percent of people infected with the West Nile virus are asymptomatic, about 20 percent develop West Nile fever.
“Since COVID is as big a problem as it is, we are beginning to see more of those mild symptoms in people with COVID, fever, body aches, similar to what you would see in West Nile fever,” Fritz said. “But when you go to the doctor, there seem to be more questions directed at the pandemic.”
Fritz said that specialized tests are generally not done until the most severe cases of West Nile virus, such as encephalitis and meningitis. These severe cases are rare.
“As a public health professional, I am a little scared to start seeing West Nile Virus in our mosquito population that if we can’t get as much surveillance on the human side, that makes it more difficult to control from the point of view of public health, “he said.
To avoid West Nile virus, apply insect repellent, cover yourself with long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and keep mosquitoes out of the house by closing windows and using air conditioning, or protected windows and doors, the CDC advises.
Click here for a complete guide to CDC West Nile virus.
The coronavirus, on the other hand, spreads mainly through virus-laden respiratory drops when an infected person sneezes or coughs and the drops fall on someone nearby. Recent evidence has shown that airborne transmission may also be possible, with persistent aerosols in the air and infecting others by inhalation in crowded, poorly ventilated indoor spaces.
For protection against COVID-19, the CDC recommends washing your hands frequently, keeping at least six feet away from others, covering your cough and sneezing, wearing a cloth face covering in public places, and disinfecting touching surfaces. frequently daily.
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