Tiny Annoying Health Risk

by WiredBerries Editors — August 17, 2007

Yep, it's that time of year again. West Nile season. What used to be just a dusk annoyance is now a health-threatening hazard. Infection with West Nile virus can be asymptomatic (no symptoms) or can lead to West Nile fever or severe West Nile disease. Most people (about 4 out of 5) who are infected with West Nile virus will not develop any type of illness (an asymptomatic infection). It is estimated that about 20% of people who become infected will develop West Nile fever. Symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness, and body aches, occasionally with a skin rash (on the trunk of the body), and swollen lymph glands. The illness can be as short as a few days or last as long as several weeks.

So as you're BBQing, hiking, and soaking up the last rays of summer sun, take a few minutes to prevent mosquito bites. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends vigilantly applying mosquito repellent, eliminating standing water (they're breeding sites for mosquitoes), and making sure you repair windows and screens.