Humans get West Nile virus (WNV) infections most of the times, when bitten by mosquitoes who have fed on infected birds. It can be very damaging and sometimes life threatening. Even though WNV infections are mostly seen in birds, humans are also very susceptible to these infections. However, WNV infections can be very grim if the virus makes its entry into the brain. WNV infections do not lead to any noticeable symptoms or any symptoms at all. These infections were first reported in the United States back in 1999. Those infected may show a fever, headache, body aches, skin rash, or swollen lymph glands as symptoms.
People aged above 50 are at an increased risk to WNV disease. It may give rise to inflammation of the brain, encephalitis, or meningitis, inflammation of the tissue that is seen around the brain and spinal cord. The fact that no effectual medication has been found so far to treat this disease makes prevention of WNV disease extremely important. The most advisable way to prevent WNV is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. There are numerous ways to keep away from mosquito bites. Using pest repellents is a very effective way among them. Repellents make you less attractive to mosquitoes and make you resistant to mosquito bites. It is advisable to use repellents that are based on natural ingredients as they do not cause any adverse effects on your health. Realizing the increased threat posed by mosquitoes scientists from around the world have worked tirelessly to find some potent mosquito repellent formulations.
It is advisable to use repellents whenever you go outdoors as mosquito bites can be expected at any time. Look around your home for standing water holders and empty them instantly. Clearing up standing water is another very effective way to get rid of mosquito bites. The period between dusk and is when mosquitoes can be most expected and so, stay indoors during this period or even if you go out, do so only after adequate application of repellents. Also, make sure your window and door screens are not giving any space for mosquitoes to enter your home.
Skin Armour is the home of one of the most efficient, safe and long-lasting mosquito protection products available at the moment - Skin Armour Deep Woods Outdoor Soap. It is an absolutely natural product made from a group of powerful natural oils. A joint attempt from the researchers in Australia and China who have worked extensively over the last decade to discover a competent mosquito protection product resulted in this product.
Presently, there exists a vaccine for the West Nile virus in horses, but no vaccine has yet been developed for the West Nile virus in humans. The West Nile virus is a rapidly spreading health problem; hence, scientific efforts into creating a vaccine for it have been accelerated in recent years.West Nile Virus Hot SpotsBoth Central and South America are major hot spots for this virus as they harbour significant numbers of the mosquito population. A complex network of interaction between the virus, the birds, and the mosquitoes exists, and it is still somewhat poorly understood. In order for the West Nile virus vaccine to be created, it is imperative for scientists to fully disentangle and comprehend the inter-connections. In 2006, there were 4,269 cases of West Nile virus reported, of which 177 were recorded deaths in the U.S.Where to BeginMany factors must be considered and many questions are still unanswered. Research on a vaccine against the West Nile virus must include the following: * Determination of how the virus replicates and spreads throughout the human body. * Investigation into how the immune system reacts to the most serious form of the virus, West Nile encephalitis. * Examination of the environment and the yearly maintenance of the disease. * Comprehension of how genetic variation affects the virus and the disease.Present ResearchIn 2003, the West Nile virus had a greater impact on the population than in previous years. This fact prompted Acambis, a biotechnology company based in Massachusetts, to begin the first human clinical trials for a West Nile virus vaccine. The Acambis vaccine contains genes from two different viruses, yellow fever and West Nile.Acambis VaccineResearchers at Acambis replaced some of the yellow fever genes with genes of a surface protein for the West Nile virus. The Acambis vaccine entered human clinical trials after performing well with mice, hamsters, monkeys and horses. In May 2005, Acambis, with its ChimeriVax technology, successfully completed Phase I of their research, whereby 30 healthy adults received a high dose of ChimeriVax-West Nile vaccine, 15 received a low dose, and 30 control subjects received a placebo.The study indicated that 96% of the high-dose group and 100% of the low-dose group developed West Nile neutralizing antibodies 28 days after the initial inoculation. In December 2005, Acambis announced its move into Phase II, and September 2006 brought an announcement outlining very promising results. The trials involved testing the safety, tolerance and immunogenic qualities of the West Nile virus vaccine on healthy adults aged 18-40. The primary purpose of this particular trial was the seroconversion rate or the percentage of candidates who developed neutralizing antibodies at a titre of at least 1:10.Results indicated that over 97% of subjects seroconverted in 28 days after one single dose of ChimeriVax-West Nile. Ongoing trials are being performed on healthy, older adults who are most at risk of experiencing severe symptoms resulting from a West Nile virus infection.
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