Prevention, the
Best Medicine
Many questions
have been asked whether there is a way to treat a mosquito bite
to prevent infection from West Nile Virus (WNV). Unfortunately, at
this time there is no treatment approved for WNV or for the bite of
an infected mosquito.
It is not possible to know if the mosquito has
infected you simply by looking at the bite or examining the mosquito
itself with the naked eye. However, you can identify if you are
infected if you develop symptoms within 3 – 14 days of the bite
of an infected mosquito AND are tested.
Although there
is no treatment for WNV, studies are currently underway. In fact,
The National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID)
is presently conducting an international
trial on a proposed treatment
for WNV.
This trial is examining the safety and effectiveness of the
use of WNV antibodies to treat people whose infection has led to
encephalitis (swelling of the brain).
For more information about this
trial, visit:
http://www2.niaid.nih.gov/newsroom/releases/wnvivig.htm.
A vaccine
for WNV is now available for horses but not yet for humans.
Researchers are currently working on developing a human vaccine and
hope that it will be available in the next few years.
Until these
treatments and vaccines are completed, the best way to reduce your
risk of contracting the virus is by using personal protection to
prevent the bite from an infected mosquito. A
New England Journal
of Medicine study found that mosquito repellents containing DEET
or 2% soybean oil (product name Bite Blocker) offer the best
protection against the bite of mosquitoes.
In addition, remember to follow the 4 D's to reduce your risk.
-
Use DEET-enhanced insect repellent or
alternative.
-
DRESS in long sleeves and pants.
- Avoid the outdoors between DUSK AND DAWN.
- DRAIN standing water.
For More Information:
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