Reprinted from the ACJ - July, 2003
This is Dave Brown's 88th article in the Health Watch series,
that now spans more than a decade of writing for the Automotive Cooling Journal.
Summer time and the living is easy. Catfish are jumpin`, king cotton`s high` The big doors are open on the shop. Letting the fresh summer breezes swirl around you, as you work. Upon those sanguine winds ride a dark cloud. (Cue the Jaws music) A blood thirsty gang of savage beast, looking for a piece of your hide. Mosquitoes- `Culex Slapthatsuckerus`. In the past few years, these flying hypodermics bring with them a new threat, West Nile Virus (WNV). Mainstream media would have you believe that, sustain a single bite and you explode! Although there is potential for the virus to cause debilitating illness, the truth about the danger is somewhat less catastrophic.
The virus itself is known as a `Flavivirus` (in da house). A rap star like name for a small piece of protein that spins it`s lifestyle, not of trim and bling, but of birds, mosquitoes and us. Mosquitoes bite birds that harbor the virus. No bird will tell how they got it. Wild night at the birdello, perhaps. The mosquito stores the virus in its salivary glands and then spits it into its next bite victim. Be it bird or horse or you. Inside your blood the virus multiplies. In response to the attack your body develops `antibodies` to fight the infection. In most cases the antibodies win. In 80% of the folks infected hat`s it. No sickness. You may not even know you had it. 20% of the mosquito`s lunch mates may develop West Nile Fever. Experiencing headache, low fever, and body aches (just like the flu) as the antibodies battle the virus. These symptoms go away in several days (just like the flu) and the person is no worse for wear. A very small percentage, 0.6%, of people infected may have those symptoms progress to a more severe, and life threatening stage. Those at greatest risk are older folks with a compromised immune system or the very young with an underdeveloped immune system. Severe headache, high fever, tremors, convulsions, disorientation and coma can occur. A doctor`s care and hospitalization are necessary. A full recovery can be expected if timely professional care is augmented.
As of press time, a mosquito bite is the only certain way to get the virus. You can`t get it from dead birds, or sick horses or kissing boys behind the barn, just mosquitoes. Some concern has been raised about transmission o the virus via organ or blood transfusions; and apparently 20 or so clumsy lab technicians have been infected by poking themselves while analyzing blood samples. I am guessing those samples were `positive`. Once bitten by an infected bug, our bodies quickly produce those antibodies we spoke of. It also produces what are called `memory` T-lymphocytes. These are cells that are designed to recognize the virus when it sees it again. The next time the viral troublemaker walks into the `body bar`, T-lymphs spot it and the antibody bouncers show it the door. This type of immunity is also true of cold and flu viruses. Once we get it we are immune. Then why do we keep getting colds and flu? Because the cold and flu virus can mutate slightly, then the T-lymphs don`t recognize it. It cuts its hair, grows a mustache and walks right in. The antibodies and T-lymphs start all over to set up protection from this `new` threat. Immunity from WNV is expected to be for life, or at least until it mutates in a chicken in Cina and we start all over.
Prevention is as easy as not getting bit. So don`t tear down that, duct taped, Gulf war plastic room quite yet. You can hide in there until the first freeze. Or you can stay indoors during dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active. So much for watching sunrises and sunsets. A more reasonable approach would be to use insect repellants that contain DEET whenever you are outdoors for any length of time. Another method of protection is to rapidly apply a flat palm to the mosquito`s backside. It is very satisfying and gives you something to do while the fish aren`t biting.
For most of us the WNV crises has been blown out of proportion, `Insect Threat Level-Blood Red`. It is just another microbe for our bodies to deal with. Do keep in mind that it can be a nasty customer if you are in that unlucky 0.6%. So don`t be afraid, be aware; and slap, slap, slap.
The above article was written by David M. Brown, Chief Engineer of Johnson Manufacturing Company, Inc. an is published by JOHNSON with the expressed approval of the National Automotive Radiator Service Association and the Automotive Cooling Journal. Other reproduction or distribution of this information is forbidden without the written consent of JOHNSON and NARSA/ACJ. All rights reserved.
JOHNSON MANUFACTURING COMPANY
114 Lost Grove Road / PO Box 96 / Princeton, Iowa 52768-0096
Phone 563-289-5123 or Fax 563-289-3825