West Nile Virus warning from Prof. Dr. Esin Davutoğlu Şenol and Prof. Dr. Serap Şimşek Yavuz: 'They bite mostly at night'

Burak DEMİRBAŞ-12punto.com.tr /EXCLUSIVE

The Ministry of Health announced in a statement yesterday (22.08.2024) that West Nile Virus infection has been detected in 6 people this year.

Turkish Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (KLİMİK) President Prof. Dr. Serap Şimşek Yavuz stated in her remarks to 12punto that the elderly and immunocompromised individuals should be protected from the disease, adding regarding those in the risk group, "Although rare, it can progress more severely in them, so it would be rational to show a little more care in protecting them from mosquitoes."

MINISTRY-MUNICIPALITY COOPERATION

Yavuz pointed out that the ministry and municipalities need to carry out joint work, and noted the following:

"The West Nile Virus has been seen intermittently in Turkey since 2010. It is related to climate change, heat, etc., and precipitation. Here, the joint work of the ministry and municipalities is very important. The environment and animal health are also very important. I see that this is happening in Istanbul, and I am happy about it. A good study is being carried out on both the ministry and municipality levels.

Mosquito control is very important, and raising public awareness is also very important. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry also needs to be involved in the surveillance of animals. These are issues that concern everyone in diseases transmitted from animals to humans."

WHAT SYMPTOMS SHOULD PROMPT A HOSPITAL VISIT?

Responding to the question of when patients should go to the hospital, Yavuz replied:

"It is useful for the elderly to go to the hospital for any kind of febrile illness because the elderly are a special group for us. As for the young, if there is a change in consciousness, persistent headache, tendency to sleep, or personality changes accompanied by fever, then they should go to the hospital. It is generally a disease that passes on its own."

PEOPLE OVER 50 ARE IN THE RISK GROUP

Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Specialist Prof. Dr. Esin Davutoğlu Şenol, in her assessment to 12punto, listed the symptoms of the West Nile Virus as follows:

"Up to 80 percent do not show symptoms, but sometimes it can attack what we call the Central Nervous System. In that case, symptoms can include seizures, vision loss, lethargy, neck stiffness (findings that a physician can detect), diarrhea, fever, and flu-like symptoms. If it attacks the central nervous system—which is seen in less than 1 percent—the risk is higher for people over 50 and those with accompanying diseases such as diabetes or high blood pressure. The mortality rate can go up to 17 percent."

Prof. Dr. Şenol also made statements regarding what the elderly and immunocompromised individuals should do, saying, "They need to apply to a health center so that their respiratory and circulatory systems can be maintained at that time. Those with diarrhea and malaise always apply to hospitals. Tests for these should also be included in primary care. We can check the blood; test centers and testing should be expanded. There is no medicine for it; only rest and fluid intake should be provided."

BEWARE OF NIGHT BITES

Prof. Dr. Şenol shared the following regarding basic protection methods against the West Nile Virus:

"Prevention of mosquito bites. The mosquitoes that carry this are mosquitoes that bite at night. They bite mostly at night. When they cannot find animals to bite around, they bite humans. As a mosquito precaution at home, sleeping under a mosquito net at night, wearing long-sleeved clothes at night, and using mosquito repellents are important measures.

Diseases that increase with mosquito bites will likely expand their geography even further due to the climate crisis and long, hot summers. It is important that mosquito control measures are taken while they are still in the larval stage under the 'One Health' concept, with the cooperation of everyone who manages health. This measure will also gain strength with the awareness of the society and the field regarding diseases spread by mosquito bites, which we call screening."