July 2011 Indiana FCRV Disaster and Safety Awareness Training

Indiana FCRV Disaster and Safety Awareness Training

July 2011

West Nile Virus


a potentially serious illness

spread through mosquitoes

seasonal, occurring in the summer and fall.

July 2011

What Is West Nile Virus?


• Serious Symptoms in a Few People.

• Milder Symptoms in Some People.

• No Symptoms in Most People.

July 2011

What happens if I am bit by a mosquito

with West Nile Virus?


Approximately 80 percent of people

(about 4 out of 5)

who are infected with WNV

will not show any symptoms at all.

July 2011

No Symptoms in Most People


• Fever•Headache• body aches•Nausea• Vomiting

• swollen lymph glands • skin rash on the chest, stomach and back.

July 2011

Milder Symptoms in Some People

Up to 20 percent of the people who become infected have symptoms

Symptoms can last for as short as a few days, though even healthy people have become sick

for several weeks.


About one in 150 people infected with WNV will develop severe illness.

July 2011

Serious Symptoms

• High fever• Headache• Neck stiffness• Stupor• Disorientation• Coma

• Tremors• Convulsions• Muscle

weakness• Vision loss• Numbness • Paralysis

These symptoms may last several weeks,

and neurological effects may be permanent.


Infected MosquitoesThis is the most common spread of the

virus.

Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds.

Infected mosquitoes can then spread WNV to humans and other animals

when they bite.

July 2011

How Does West Nile Virus Spread?


In a very small number of cases

TransfusionsTransplantsMother-to-ChildPregnancyBreastfeeding

July 2011

How ELSE Does West Nile Virus Spread?


Not through touching.

WNV is not spread through casual contact

such as touching or kissing

a person with the virus.

July 2011

How is West Nile Virus NOT Spread?


The easiest and best way to avoid WNV is to prevent mosquito

bites.

July 2011

What Can I Do to Prevent WNV?


Many mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn.

During these hours

Use insect repellentWear long sleeves and pants

Consider staying indoors

Make sure you havegood screens on your windows and doors

to keep mosquitoes out.

July 2011

Prevent mosquito bites


Get rid of mosquito breeding sites

•Empty standing water from flower pots, buckets and barrels.

•Change the water in pet dishes

•Replace the water in bird baths weekly

•Drill holes in tire swings so water drains out

•Keep children's wading pools empty and on their sides when they aren't being used.

July 2011

Eliminate mosquitoes


A vaccine is available

to protect horses from West Nile virus.

No vaccine is available for humans,

but work to develop a human vaccine

is under way.

July 2011

Can’t I just get a vaccine?


Signs and symptoms of West Nile fever usually last a few days.

Signs and symptoms of encephalitis or meningitis

can linger for weeks.

Certain neurological effects, such as muscle weakness, may be permanent.

July 2011

How long will the infection last?


People typically develop symptoms

between

3 and 14 days

after they are bitten

by the infected mosquito. July 2011

How Soon Do Infected People Get Sick?


There is no specific treatment for

West Nile Virus infection.

Milder symptoms, such as fever and aches,

will pass on their own.

Even healthy people may be sick for several weeks.

July 2011

How Is WNV Infection Treated?


FOR SEVERE INFECTIONS

Treatment is in the hospital for supportive treatment

Intravenous fluids

Help with breathing

Nursing care

THERE IS NO SPECIFIC TREATMENT

July 2011

How Is WNV Infection Treated?


Research is being done

On a type of immune cell therapy

For use in West Nile Encephalitis (brain inflammation)

Early research shows some improved recovery

In some who use interferon.

But study is not complete.

July 2011

Interferon therapy


Milder WNV illness improves on its own

It is not necessarily need to seek medical attention

Severe WNV illness

unusually severe headaches or confusion

seek medical attention immediately

Severe WNV illness

usually requires hospitalizationJuly 2011

What Should I Do if I Think I Have WNV?


People over 50 at higher risk to get severe illness.

Being outside means you're at risk. The more time you're outdoors, the

more time you could be bitten by an infected mosquito.

Risk through medical procedures is very low. All donated blood is checked for WNV before being used.

The risk of getting WNV through blood transfusions and organ

transplants is very small.

July 2011

Who is most at risk for WNV infection


If you find a dead bird:

Don't handle the body with your bare hands.

Contact your local health department for instructions on reporting and disposing of the body.

They may tell you to dispose of the bird after they log your

report.

July 2011

What Else Should I Know?


INFORMATION: Coordinating a nation-wide electronic database where states share information about WNV

PREVENTION: Helping states develop and carry out improved mosquito prevention and control programs

TESTING: Developing better, faster tests to detect and diagnose WNV

Opening new testing laboratories for WNV

EDUCATING: Creating new education tools and programs for the media, the public, and health professionals

RESEARCH: Working with partners on the development of vaccines

July 2011

What Is the CDC Doing About WNV?


July 2011

In Summary

West Nile Virus is transmitted primarily by the bite of infected mosquitoes.

Most of the infections are mild, but they can be life threatening.

There is no definitive treatment for West Nile Virus.

The best approach is prevention throughEliminating breeding sites

Taking precautions against being bitten by a mosquito.


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)

Division of Vector-Borne Diseases (DVBD)

July 2011

Content source

For more information call the CDC public response hotlineat (888) 246-2675 (English), (888) 246-2857 (Español), or

(866) 874-2646 (TTY)

http://www.cdc.gov/

http://www.cdc.gov/ncezid/

http://www.cdc.gov/ncezid/

http://www.cdc.gov/ncezid/dvbd/index.html

Documents

July 2011 Indiana FCRV Disaster and Safety Awareness Training