westnile virus for ya
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- preston0
Most people who contract the virus may not show symptoms, or their symptoms may be mild and flu-like. About 20% of those infected may develop West Nile fever - a milder form of the virus that includes fever, headache, muscle aches and a rash that clears up in 7 to 10 days. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that fewer than 1% of those infected develop severe symptoms and fewer than that experience life-threatening complications.
One out of 150 infected people will develop the more serious form of the disease, which results in encephalitis (an inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (an inflammation of the layers that cover the brain). West Nile virus can cause the brain or spinal cord to swell and block the flow of blood to the brain. This could lead to a coma, paralysis, or even death. However, these extreme reactions tend to appear mostly in people who are over 65 or have weakened immune systems. Of those who become seriously ill, approximately one in 10 will die.