West Nile Virus

The mosquitos that spread West Nile virus are infected when they feed on infected birds.¹ Humans are ‘dead-end’ hosts, meaning they do not spread the infection.¹

Most often, people get West Nile virus when they are bitten by an infected mosquito.¹ Sometimes, the virus can be spread by contact with other infected animals, and very rarely, the virus can be spread through organ transplant, blood transfusions, and breast milk.¹

West Nile virus is prevalent throughout Africa, parts of Europe, the Middle East, West Asia, Australia, and in the Americas from Canada to Venezuela.¹

In around 80% of infected people, West Nile Virus causes no symptoms. In a minority of cases, it can lead to West Nile Fever or severe West Nile disease.¹

The symptoms of West Nile fever include fever, headache, tiredness, body aches, nausea, and vomiting, and occasionally a skin rash and swollen lymph glands.¹

Severe West Nile disease occurs in approximately 1 in 150 people infected with West Nile virus. Symptoms of severe disease include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis.¹

You can take the following precautions to help reduce your risk of infection:

• Visit your nearest convenient pharmacy or specialist travel health clinic for a risk assessment before your trip
• Use a recommended insect repellent containing either Picaridin, DEET, PMD or OLE (oil of lemon eucalyptus), IR5353 or 2-undecanone^1,6
• Wear appropriate clothing (e.g. loose fitting long-sleeved clothes, long trousers, socks and shoes) to minimise exposed skin^7,8
• Use mosquito nets if you are sleeping or resting in unscreened accommodation or sleeping outdoors during the day or night⁷
• Use gloves and other protective clothing when handling sick or dead animals¹