According to a press statement issued on Tuesday, the Ministry has deputed a multi-disciplinary public health team to investigate various epidemiological aspects of West Nile Virus in the district and the state. The state has been advised to follow the National Vector Borne Disease Control Program (NVBDCP) guidelines for personal protective measures to prevent mosquito bites. It has also been recommended that vector surveillance and control be coordinated with NVBDCP.
“All cases of JE/AES are to be investigated per JE/ AES guidelines and tested for West Nile Virus. Further, the community is to be sensitized through IEC campaigns on the use of personal protective measures to prevent mosquito bites as per NVBDCP Guidelines,” the release mentioned.
West Nile Fever is a mosquito-borne zoonotic disease caused by a flavivirus -West Nile Virus (WNV). This virus is related to viruses that cause Japanese Encephalitis, yellow fever, and St. Louis encephalitis. Human infection is most often due to bites from infected mosquitoes. No human-to-human transmission of WNV through casual contact has been documented. Infection with WNV is either asymptomatic (no symptoms) in around 80 percent of infected people or can lead to West Nile fever or severe West Nile disease.
