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A member asked:
Will antibiotics work against west nile virus?
6 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
Not yet: No antibiotics are approved for use against west nile virus. Attempts at using ribavirin, immunoglobulins & interferons to treat wnv patients have been inconclusive. Numerous new medications are in development now. Fortunately 80-90% of people who are infected with wnv have no symptoms or disease. The elderly are at highest risk. Severe wnv infections have decreased in the past 10 years.
Answered 3/8/2018
6.1k views
Antibiotics: Antibiotics are targeted for bacteria. West nile is a virus, against which antibiotics are mostly useless. If, however, there is a superimposed bacterial infection on top of the viral illness, then antibiotics may be of use.
Answered 5/19/2015
5.5k views
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