Post by FireGurl on Aug 31, 2018 2:26:13 GMT -5
West Nile is a virus most commonly spread to people by mosquito bites. In North America, cases of West Nile virus (WNV) occur during mosquito season, which starts in the summer and continues through fall. WNV cases have been reported in all of the continental United States and Canada. There are no vaccines to prevent or medications to treat WNV in people. Fortunately, most people infected with WNV do not have symptoms. About 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms. About 1 out of 150 infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness. You can reduce your risk of WNV by using insect repellent and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants to prevent mosquito bites.
Prevention
The most effective way to prevent infection from West Nile virus is to prevent mosquito bites. Mosquitoes bite during the day and night. Use insect repellent, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants, treat clothing and gear, and take steps to control mosquitoes indoors and outdoors.
Protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites
Use Insect Repellent
Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents with one of the active ingredients below. When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
DEET
Picaridin (known as KBR 3023 and icaridin outside the US)
IR3535
Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)
Para-menthane-diol (PMD)
2-undecanone
Tips for babies and children
an adult male applying insect repellent to a child's face
Always follow instructions when applying insect repellent to children.
Do not use insect repellent on babies younger than 2 months old.
Instead, dress your child in clothing that covers arms and legs.
Cover strollers and baby carriers with mosquito netting.
Do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD) on children under 3 years old.
Do not apply insect repellent to a child’s hands, eyes, mouth, cuts, or irritated skin.
Adults: Spray insect repellent onto your hands and then apply to a child’s face.
Tips for Everyone
Always follow the product label instructions.
Reapply insect repellent as directed.
Do not spray repellent on the skin under clothing.
If you are also using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second.
Natural insect repellents (repellents not registered with EPA)
We do not know the effectiveness of non-EPA registered insect repellents, including some natural repellents.
To protect yourself against diseases spread by mosquitoes, CDC and EPA recommend using an EPA-registered insect repellent.
Choosing an EPA-registered repellent ensures the EPA has evaluated the product for effectiveness.
Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants
Treat clothing and gear
Use permethrin to treat clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents) buy permethrin-treated clothing and gear.
Permethrin is an insecticide that kills or repels mosquitoes.
Permethrin-treated clothing provides protection after multiple washings.
Read product information to find out how long the protection will last.
If treating items yourself, follow the product instructions.
Do not use permethrin products directly on skin.
Take steps to control mosquitoes indoors and outdoors
Use screens on windows and doors. Repair holes in screens to keep mosquitoes outdoors.
Use air conditioning, if available.
Stop mosquitoes from laying eggs in or near water.
Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out items that hold water, such as tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpots, or trash containers.
Check indoors and outdoors.
Prevent mosquito bites when traveling overseas
Choose a hotel or lodging with air conditioning or screens on windows and doors.
Sleep under a mosquito bed net if you are outside or in a room that does not have screens.
Buy a bed net at your local outdoor store or online before traveling overseas.
Choose a WHOPES-approved bed net: compact, white, rectangular, with 156 holes per square inch, and long enough to tuck under the mattress.
Permethrin-treated bed nets provide more protection than untreated nets.
Do not wash bed nets or expose them to sunlight. This will break down the insecticide more quickly.
Symptoms
No symptoms in most people. Most people (8 out of 10) infected with West Nile virus do not develop any symptoms.
Febrile illness (fever) in some people. About 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. Most people with this type of West Nile virus disease recover completely, but fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or months.
Serious symptoms in a few people. About 1 in 150 people who are infected develop a severe illness affecting the central nervous system such as encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord).
Symptoms of severe illness include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis.
Severe illness can occur in people of any age; however, people over 60 years of age are at greater risk. People with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, and people who have received organ transplants, are also at greater risk.
Recovery from severe illness might take several weeks or months. Some effects to the central nervous system might be permanent.
About 1 out of 10 people who develop severe illness affecting the central nervous system die.
Diagnosis
See your healthcare provider if you develop the symptoms described above.
Your healthcare provider can order tests to look for West Nile virus infection.
Treatment
No vaccine or specific antiviral treatments for West Nile virus infection are available.
Over-the-counter pain relievers can be used to reduce fever and relieve some symptoms
In severe cases, patients often need to be hospitalized to receive supportive treatment, such as intravenous fluids, pain medication, and nursing care.
If you think you or a family member might have West Nile virus disease, talk with your health care provider.
Prevention
The most effective way to prevent infection from West Nile virus is to prevent mosquito bites. Mosquitoes bite during the day and night. Use insect repellent, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants, treat clothing and gear, and take steps to control mosquitoes indoors and outdoors.
Protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites
Use Insect Repellent
Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents with one of the active ingredients below. When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
DEET
Picaridin (known as KBR 3023 and icaridin outside the US)
IR3535
Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)
Para-menthane-diol (PMD)
2-undecanone
Tips for babies and children
an adult male applying insect repellent to a child's face
Always follow instructions when applying insect repellent to children.
Do not use insect repellent on babies younger than 2 months old.
Instead, dress your child in clothing that covers arms and legs.
Cover strollers and baby carriers with mosquito netting.
Do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD) on children under 3 years old.
Do not apply insect repellent to a child’s hands, eyes, mouth, cuts, or irritated skin.
Adults: Spray insect repellent onto your hands and then apply to a child’s face.
Tips for Everyone
Always follow the product label instructions.
Reapply insect repellent as directed.
Do not spray repellent on the skin under clothing.
If you are also using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second.
Natural insect repellents (repellents not registered with EPA)
We do not know the effectiveness of non-EPA registered insect repellents, including some natural repellents.
To protect yourself against diseases spread by mosquitoes, CDC and EPA recommend using an EPA-registered insect repellent.
Choosing an EPA-registered repellent ensures the EPA has evaluated the product for effectiveness.
Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants
Treat clothing and gear
Use permethrin to treat clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents) buy permethrin-treated clothing and gear.
Permethrin is an insecticide that kills or repels mosquitoes.
Permethrin-treated clothing provides protection after multiple washings.
Read product information to find out how long the protection will last.
If treating items yourself, follow the product instructions.
Do not use permethrin products directly on skin.
Take steps to control mosquitoes indoors and outdoors
Use screens on windows and doors. Repair holes in screens to keep mosquitoes outdoors.
Use air conditioning, if available.
Stop mosquitoes from laying eggs in or near water.
Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out items that hold water, such as tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpots, or trash containers.
Check indoors and outdoors.
Prevent mosquito bites when traveling overseas
Choose a hotel or lodging with air conditioning or screens on windows and doors.
Sleep under a mosquito bed net if you are outside or in a room that does not have screens.
Buy a bed net at your local outdoor store or online before traveling overseas.
Choose a WHOPES-approved bed net: compact, white, rectangular, with 156 holes per square inch, and long enough to tuck under the mattress.
Permethrin-treated bed nets provide more protection than untreated nets.
Do not wash bed nets or expose them to sunlight. This will break down the insecticide more quickly.
Symptoms
No symptoms in most people. Most people (8 out of 10) infected with West Nile virus do not develop any symptoms.
Febrile illness (fever) in some people. About 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. Most people with this type of West Nile virus disease recover completely, but fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or months.
Serious symptoms in a few people. About 1 in 150 people who are infected develop a severe illness affecting the central nervous system such as encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord).
Symptoms of severe illness include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis.
Severe illness can occur in people of any age; however, people over 60 years of age are at greater risk. People with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, and people who have received organ transplants, are also at greater risk.
Recovery from severe illness might take several weeks or months. Some effects to the central nervous system might be permanent.
About 1 out of 10 people who develop severe illness affecting the central nervous system die.
Diagnosis
See your healthcare provider if you develop the symptoms described above.
Your healthcare provider can order tests to look for West Nile virus infection.
Treatment
No vaccine or specific antiviral treatments for West Nile virus infection are available.
Over-the-counter pain relievers can be used to reduce fever and relieve some symptoms
In severe cases, patients often need to be hospitalized to receive supportive treatment, such as intravenous fluids, pain medication, and nursing care.
If you think you or a family member might have West Nile virus disease, talk with your health care provider.
