He West Nile virus continues to wreak havoc Andalusia. This was not the community in which the first human case of the disease was identified. The first diagnosis was made in Cornella de LlobregatBarcelona, in 2004. However, in 2010, two cases were identified in the province Cadiz and since then the situation in Andalusia has only worsened. Although in 2023 there were only 19 casesby 2024 they had already been discovered about 80 positivealthough there may be many more. In addition, the Junta of Andalusia reported a death from the Nile virus 7 people.
The situation is very alarming. Residents of the most affected provinces have launched a platform demanding Junta of Andalusia more attention. For its part, the Ministry of Health points out that measures against the virus are being stepped up. Whoever is right, it is undeniable that the Nile virus continues to advance across Andalusian lands. Even now, when the heat is subsiding and the mosquito population should be decreasing, cases of the disease continue to rise.
So what should we know about West Nile virus? Are there any measures to prevent this? How serious is it? Given its progress, it is important to know the answer to all these questions.
Only two provinces are free of the Nile virus
To study the development of a virus, it is important to know what it is. tank common. That is, the host in which it lives and reproduces best, usually without causing symptoms. In the case of West Nile virus The main reservoir is birds.. This means that it is in their cells that the virus reproduces best and that they are the main route of infection. The carriers of the pathogen are mosquitoes, and the animals from which they mainly extract it are birds.
On the other hand, there are accidental hosts, or in other words, animals whose cells also have receptors for the virus, although not in them they reproduce best. For West Nile virus, humans are accidental hosts. But we are not alone. It can also affect other mammals, especially horses.
So, to track the virus geographically, they usually study the cells of mosquitoes, birds, and horses. In addition to humans, of course.
This year in Andalusia, human cases have been detected in 5 provinces: Seville, Cadiz, Huelva, Jaen and Cordoba. The first three cases were also found in horses. And there is a sixth, Malagain which the virus was found in mosquito samples but not in humans. Therefore, Almeria and Granada These are the only provinces of Andalusia where there are still no traces of the West Nile virus.
What are the symptoms of West Nile virus?
Given the spread of the virus, it is important to know what its symptoms are so that it can be detected as early as possible. They may appear from 1 to 14 days after the bite, so sometimes it is difficult to associate them with the mosquito. We no longer remember what bit us.
The most common ones include: headache, stomach and throat pain, fever, loss of appetite and rash.. Digestive symptoms may also occur, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. And of course, like other infections, it can be detected inflammation in the lymph nodesIn addition, in more severe cases, other symptoms may be observed: such as muscle and limb weakness, stiff neck, or confusion.
This is a very diverse spectrum of symptoms, so they can be confused with many other diseases. However, in areas most affected by the virus, it is important to pay close attention to its occurrence. Especially in patients at risk, such as elderly people, patients with weakened immune systems or pregnant women.
In these cases, there is a risk of complications such as inflammation of the brain Usually he is older. It is estimated that one in ten people with inflammation of the brain will die from this cause, so it is important to pay attention to such cases.
It is precisely because this is a disease whose deaths usually occur in people with previous health problems that there is some debate about the real number of deaths in 2024. According to the platform against the West Nile virus, there were not 7 deaths, but 9. The fact is that the Andalusian government excluded two deaths from the virus, but due to previous illnessWould they have died without the infection? We don’t know.
Prevention is power
Like any mosquito-borne virus, the best way to prevent it is to prevent bites. To do this, it is advisable to use repellents and clothing that covers as much of the skin as possible if we are going to near standing water.
At home, mosquito nets should be installed on windows to prevent water from stagnating. For example, plates, flower pots and garbage containers should be emptied regularly. All this, logically, is necessary in the most affected areas. Although it would not hurt to implement this in other places as well. Any precautions are not enough.
Source: Hiper Textual
