West Nile Virus: an overview.
West Nile Virus is the most frequent cause of arboviral disease in the United States. It was first identified in the United States in 1999. Since that time, each of the 48 contiguous states in the United States has seen the disease, and it has been found in 96% of the U.S. counties in infected humans, mosquitoes, birds, horses, or other mammals. Although most often the disease resolves on its own, patients can develop serious and life-threatening complications, and may need further monitoring and treatment. This article reviews the prevalence, transmission, signs and symptoms, complications, treatment, surveillance, and prevention of the disease.
Deborah Hale, MSN, RN, ACNS-BC, is an Instructor Clinical Track, McAuley School of Nursing, University of Detroit Mercy, Detroit, Michigan.
Deborah
D
Hale
D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D001717:Birds / Q000821:virology; D009033:Culicidae / Q000821:virology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D006736:Horses / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012621:Seasons; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission