The doctor described the symptoms of West Nile fever

General practitioner Elena Aleksentseva spoke about the symptoms of West Nile fever.

In conversation with aif.ru On Monday, May 25, the specialist noted that they usually appear two to six days after a mosquito bite, but the incubation period can last up to 14 days. The disease is accompanied by fever, headache, muscle weakness, and may also manifest as a rash and inflammation of the meninges.

According to her, the mild form, which occurs in about 20% of those infected, resembles severe flu: high fever, severe headache, muscle and joint aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and sometimes rash are possible.

The expert emphasized that with the development of complications such as encephalitis or meningitis, more serious symptoms occur — muscle rigidity, confusion, seizures, tremor, weakness up to paralysis, and even loss of vision.

She also added that there is no vaccine or specific treatment for West Nile virus for humans, so the main protection is the prevention of mosquito bites. The doctor recommended using repellents, wearing closed light clothing, installing mosquito nets and avoiding the accumulation of standing water on the site.

Overflowing the shores: West Nile virus engulfs Europe

An increase in the number of cases is recorded in endemic areas.

On May 23, Rospotrebnadzor reported that mosquitoes in Russia can carry the West Nile virus. For protection, experts recommend using repellents, mosquito nets and covered clothing, as well as avoiding standing water and wetlands. kp.ru . The ministry recalled that, in addition to the southern regions of Russia, West Nile fever is common in Egypt, Greece, Israel, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. 360.ru .

Earlier in May, Candidate of Biological Sciences Pavel Glazkov told the Moscow City News agency that the first mosquitoes would appear in the capital by mid–May, and the mass release of insects would occur in late May or early June. The number of mosquitoes may be high this year due to favorable wintering conditions.

At the end of April, Georgy Vikulov, director of the Scientific Information Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Viral Infections, told NSN that the Krasnodar Territory, Dagestan, and Crimea were the peak locations for the spread of malaria mosquitoes. They most often carry not malaria, but West Nile fever.

In March, allergist and immunologist Vladimir Bolibok warned RT that mosquitoes in Russia can carry a number of infectious and parasitic diseases. West Nile fever occurs in humans as an acute febrile state with symptoms of general intoxication, in severe cases with damage to the central nervous system. In Russia, this fever has been massively registered since 1999. The specialist recalled that mosquitoes are most active from 20-22 p.m. to 4-6 a.m.

In August, Chief medical officer Olga Rubleva told Izvestia that to reduce the risk of contracting West Nile Fever, it is better to avoid dangerous regions or take protective measures: use repellents and nets, and wear closed clothing. According to her, this disease is usually relatively mild, sometimes even asymptomatic. However, symptoms such as fever up to 40 degrees, headache, lethargy, muscle and joint pain are also possible.

West Nile fever is a viral infection transmitted through mosquito bites. Most often, it is asymptomatic, but sometimes it can affect the nervous system and be life-threatening. The virus circulates through birds: mosquitoes become infected from them and transmit the infection to humans, writes Pravda.Ru . At the same time, the disease is not transmitted from person to person, and pets are not a source of infection.