Doc:West Nile of world-wide prevalence

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Matthew Breazeale

July 23, 2008

By Matthew Breazeale The Star Herald Wed Jul 23, 2008, 08:31 AM CDT

Mississippi’s state bird, the mosquito, was the topic of discussion at the July 16 meeting of Wellness Wednesday. Dr. Gary Holdiness gave a very informative presentation on the origins and characteristics of the West Nile Virus at Holmes Community College Attala Education Center.

“A fun viral illness to look at,” says Holdiness, it has “world-wide prevalence” and has been known throughout the Asian medical community for years as the “Junjin Virus.” With Junjin being roughly translated from Japanese to “second color” according to Holdiness. The virus can be seen as yellow under an electron microscopy.

Holdiness, of the Kosciusko Medical Clinic, has been practicing for the past 22 years. Through research, the West Nile Virus has shown similar replicating characteristics to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV.

“The history of the West Nile Virus goes back to 1937,” being named for its discovery in the West Nile district of Uganda, Africa. The RNA based virus has been the subject of many genetic studies that it was traced back to the 1600s.

“In Egypt and Israel 40 to 80 percent of the adult population carry antibodies for this virus meaning that during childhood they’re exposed to it enough until they develop that anti-body response and are no longer affected by it.”

Transmission is through mosquitoes, which abound in Mississippi. Birds, mainly crows and robins, are affected just as much as humans, referred to as “the two main bird vectors” of West Nile. The virus resides in the head of a mosquito and is introduced into a host as it takes blood.

Symptoms are often flu-like, including fever, lymph nodes swelling and mild to severe chronic fatigue.

Infection is unlikely from one infected mosquito bite. A person would have to be bitten many times over a short period of time for the virus to overwhelm one’s immune system. “The long and short of it, West Nile is not easy to catch,” emphasized Holdiness.

Common practices should still always be taken to guard against mosquitoes. Removing standing water from a property is a big mosquito breeding inhibitor, wearing clothes imbued with insect repellant and using natural ingredients like lemon dill oil, reduces the chances of being bitten.

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