Symptoms
About 80% of those infected with West Nile Virus will have no symptoms. About 20% will experience mild to moderate flu-like symptoms such as:
fever
nausea, vomiting
headaches
body aches
skin rashes
swollen lymph nodes
These symptoms typically last for only a few days and have no long-term health impact.
Less than 1% (about 1 in 150) of those infected will develop more serious disease, in which there is brain involvement. This can lead to life-threatening encephalitis and/or meningitis. Symptoms of encephalitis include:
high fever
extreme muscle weakness
neck stiffness
stupor, disorientation
tremors, convulsions
coma
paralysis (rarely)
The fatality rate of those with the more serious form of the disease ranges from 3-15% and is highest among the elderly. Individuals with compromised immune systems also have an increased risk of severe disease.
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