New York mosquitoes infected with dangerous virus

Authorities warn of contagion from the West Nile virus

07/12/2012

In the New York district „Staten Island“ mosquitoes were discovered with the West Nile virus. The health authority warned the population against a possible infection with the originally from Uganda virus, which at worst causes those affected to fall into a coma.

West Nile virus is transmitted by mosquitoes
As the New York health authority announced on Tuesday, no people had been infected yet. Nevertheless, the population should be vigilant, apply insect repellent and cover especially at dusk arms and legs with clothing. This is especially true for over 50-year-olds.

As a rule, the infection is harmless. Often sufferers have no or only very weak symptoms. In some cases, however, there are flu-like symptoms known as West Nile fever. The patients then suffer from chills, headaches, nausea and fever, which is why a context is usually discovered very late. Because the virus is able to cross the blood-brain barrier, it can trigger encephalitis, brain inflammation, or meningitis, an inflammation of the meninges. Those affected can fall into a coma and die from the infection. First and foremost, birds are affected by the virus. By mosquitoes as a carrier of the pathogen but also enters the human organism. The West Nile virus was first discovered in Uganda in 1937.

Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology in Leipzig succeeded in 2008 in the development of a vaccine against the West Nile virus. By injecting small pathogen DNA molecules containing genetic information for antigens, the human organism is said to produce antibodies. Despite successful tests, the vaccine is not yet on the market. (Ag)

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Picture: Peashooter