Question 1

how do the rna molecules of hiv and west nile virus (wnv) differ in number and function?

Accepted Answer

Which ones?: There are dozens of variants of HIV and West Nile virus. I believe the genomes for all of them have been sequenced and the sequences published. There are many open-source sequence-alignment software packages available for download. Many run better under Linux than Windows. Do you have a preference?

Question 2

i killed a mosquito with my bare hands. what are the chances ill get west nile virus. its been reported in my area. is there any harm kill mosquito?

Accepted Answer

Unlikely: It's unlikely that you will get west Nile by killing a Mosquito. West Nile can only transfer to your body if Mosquito bites you.

Question 3

what does west nile virus look like?

Accepted Answer

Very variable: In most cases, no actual symptoms, and in those who do get sick, very similar to a flu-like problem with generalized aching, low grade temp.  Far less common, especially in immunologically suppressed folks, can cause brain and spinal cord inflammation which could be deadly, or leave a patient with arm or leg weakness (like a poliomyelitis).

Question 4

what organ does the west nile virus affect?

Accepted Answer

Brain most commonly: The West Nile Virus mostly affects the brain within the central nervous system.  When it affects the brain...it is the most common complication of West Nile....then, it's called an encephalitis.

Question 5

how does the west nile virus get transmitted?

Accepted Answer

Mosquito bourne: West nile virus (wnv) is carried by mosquitoes that have fed on infected birds.  They transmit the virus to humans when you are bitten. So stay indoors when mosquitoes are active, wear light colored clothes, long sleeves, hat, long pants, and consider using insect repellant as well.

Question 6

what does the west nile virus actually do to your body?

Accepted Answer

Variable: Usually, no symptoms at all.  In some, causes a flu-like syndrome for a few days.  In rare patients, especially immunologically suppressed folks, can create a life-threatening meningo-encephalitis, and even rarer a polio-myelitis resulting in motor nerve cell damage in the spinal cord.  Have seen all of these variations, but mostly, the mosquito bite causes only local itching.

Question 7

how common is west nile virus in other parts of the world?

Accepted Answer

Incidence of WNV: West nile virus was first identified in 1937 in uganda in eastern africa. It was first discovered in the United States in the summer of 1999 in new york. Since then, the virus has spread throughout the United States and appears to have more cases in the great plains, especially in the fall.  
West nile virus is one of the most geographically widespread arboviruses in the world with cases occurring.

Question 8

i have west nile virus, have i transmit the disease directly to my family members?

Accepted Answer

No, but ...: West nile virus is transmitted by mosquito bites. The mosquito injects the virus into the human or animal. There have not been cases of animal-to-human or human-to-human direct spread of the disease. That's the good news. However, there was one reported case of transmission from a mother to her baby through the placenta, and also one case of transmission to a child by breast-feeding.

Question 9

can west nile virus cause meningitis?

Accepted Answer

Encephalitis: The infection involves the substance of the brain, not just the coverings (meningitis), and can be rapidly deadly in susceptible hosts,  real issue of death of nerve cell bodies in brain and spinal cord resulting in a poliomyelitis, with permanent weakness,  yet, most immunologically competent hosts are either asymptomatic, or have a mild flulike reaction for a few days.

Question 10

it is possible to get west nile virus from a tick?

Accepted Answer

No: So far it only seems to be transmissible via mosquito.  However, tick-borne rickettsial diseases can mimic the flu-like / brain-effecting west nile infection and probably be more dangerous.

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Doctor answers about:

CSF West Nile virus RNA, PCR

A member asked:

How do the rna molecules of hiv and west nile virus (wnv) differ in number and function?

A member asked:

I killed a mosquito with my bare hands. what are the chances ill get west nile virus. its been reported in my area. is there any harm kill mosquito?

A member asked:

What does west nile virus look like?

A member asked:

What organ does the west nile virus affect?

A member asked:

How does the west nile virus get transmitted?

A member asked:

What does the west nile virus actually do to your body?

A member asked:

How common is west nile virus in other parts of the world?

A member asked:

I have west nile virus, have i transmit the disease directly to my family members?

A member asked:

Can west nile virus cause meningitis?

A member asked:

It is possible to get west nile virus from a tick?

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