West Nile virus far deadlier than previously though
West Nile virus may be far deadlier than virologists previously thought, according to a newly published study.
This mosquito-borne infection could lead to the death of infected people from complications occurring several years after their apparent recovery.
Researchers observed a group of 4,144 people in Texas who contracted this virus between 2002 and 2012. Among them, 286 died within three months of infection. However, it was determined that an additional 268 people died in the ten years following their infection due to complications related to the virus. This represents to a mortality rate of 13.3%.
Dr. Kristy Murray of Baylor Medical School in Texas points out that West Nile virus is a more serious infection than Zika virus.
La Presse article:
Published on Nov 14, 2016
Agence France Presse
These findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) being held in Atlanta.
According to federal estimates, 4% of people infected with West Nile virus and experiencing symptoms die within the first three months.
“The attention given to Zika virus in the United States is understandable given its risk of causing fetal microcephaly, but West Nile virus is a more serious infection and its threat may persist even in patients who appear to have survived infection without after-effects,” notes Dr. Kristy Murray of Baylor Medical School in Texas.
This virus does not cause symptoms in approximately 80% of infected people. For others, it causes fever, body aches, rash, headache, vomiting and diarrhea. And, in some rare cases, the brain can be affected.
In the study group, those whose brains were affected had the highest rate of subsequent mortality. Kidney disease also linked to the initial infection was also an important cause of delayed deaths.
Dr. Murray followed groups of former patients for several years and found that many died prematurely.
“We saw a large number of people who appeared healthy until they became infected with West Nile virus and then their general condition deteriorated,” she says.
West Nile virus was introduced in the United States in 1999 and belong to the same family as yellow fever and Zika viruses.