Be Alert For West Nile Virus

PRESS RELEASE

26 April, 2004

The holiday season is almost upon us and, with the US $ at a 20-year low against sterling, more and more people are heading west to sample the delights of the USA and Canada.

But today they risk bringing back more with them than a cut-price souvenir.

West Nile Virus, an encephalitis disease spread by mosquitoes, is threatening to engulf the whole of the USA – and although the virus cycles mainly between birds and mosquitoes, when man is bitten by an infected mosquito the disease can be very serious, in some cases resulting in death. A new information source on the virus and the disease is now available from Wildlife Information Network (WIN) an international charity based in the UK.

The disease may present in a variety of ways, from a mild non-specific illness to severe nervous signs and death. The elderly and individuals with suppressed immune systems are particularly susceptible.

WN virus infection may be inapparent or result in a range of signs and symptoms from classical West Nile fever (fever and headache, with or without rash and/or enlarged lymph nodes, and sometimes other symptoms) to severe neurological manifestations of meningitis or encephalitis, sometimes with profound muscle weakness or acute flaccid paralysis. Other manifestations, such as hepatitis or respiratory signs, have been noted occasionally.  West Nile fever cannot be distinguished clinically from other viral fevers and WNV meningitis or encephalitis cannot be distinguished clinically from similar syndromes caused by other viruses.

The new Wildpro encyclopaedic volume "West Nile Virus" has been published by WIN to aid recognition, diagnosis and control (including vaccination) of this disease.

This volume forms part of a series covering emerging infectious diseases, and the health and management of wildlife. This volume was produced in collaboration with the US Government's USGS-National Wildlife Health Center and is recognised as the definitive complete information resource on West Nile Virus. It is fully referenced and peer-reviewed. The Wildpro "West Nile Virus" volume is available to members of WIN on the Web-based electronic encyclopaedia through www.wildlifeinformation.org and on CD-ROM for off-line and field work.

Ends

Issued on behalf of Wildlife Information Network by Woodcote Communications.

For further information please contact

A copy of the CD-ROM is available to Editors for review purposes on request from Iain Boardman.

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. Wildlife Information Network is a UK Registered Charity that provides information on wildlife and emerging infectious diseases.
2. Wildpro is the Electronic Encyclopaedia and Library published by the Wildlife Information Network (WIN) and is made available through its Website www.wildlifeinformation.org to members of WIN: professionals and decision-makers worldwide. It is a user-friendly system providing cross-disciplinary information. Volumes are made available on both a password controlled Website and CD-ROM.
3. The West Nile Virus volume runs from a central flowchart divided into sections. The description of West Nile Virus (WNV) disease includes incubation, time course, persistence and long-term effects, morbidity, mortality, life stages affected and susceptibility. Clinical signs and pathology are covered, along with diagnosis, treatment, vaccination and environmental and population control measures.
   The section on the virus itself includes its structure and diversity, detection and identification techniques, host species and vectors, and infection of humans, horses and other mammals, birds and reptiles. Its life cycle and transmission are explained, along with means of inactivating it.
   A section on mosquitoes describes many species which are known to be vectors of WNV and the types of habitat in which they breed. Data is given on insecticides and the repellent, DEET, including alternative names, chemical formulae and formulations, uses and effects on the environment and non-target species.
   The disease management section covers education and communication, the clinical approach to individual human and animal cases and assessing whether WNV is a threat in a particular location and what response is appropriate.
   Surveillance of mosquitoes, animals and humans is considered, as well as disease prevention and control measures, including habitat management, chemical and biological control, personal protection and vaccination.
   Supporting the volume are a Directory of organisations providing information on WNV in North America, an Electronic Library of full-text documents, and video clips of bird necropsy and blood sampling.
4. Individual membership of the Wildlife Information Network charity costs £31.50 including VAT and P&P ($US52.50 / € 52.50) to include unlimited single-user access to the password-controlled Web-based electronic encyclopaedia and the electronic library, plus one CD-ROM of the subscriber's choice from the published list.
   Corporate or institutional membership allows multi-user access to the Website and includes a 'starter-pack' selection of every CD-ROM published by the charity and copies of all new volumes published during the period of membership. The subscription costs £470 per annum (€770) including VAT and postage for EU countries, or USD $675 including postage for the USA and rest of the world. It also entitles holders of institutional subscriptions to nominate a 'sister' institution in a developing country, or 25 individual recipients, who will similarly benefit from full membership of the WIN charity.
   For further information see www.wildlifeinformation.org.
   Applications should be made to info@wildlifeinformation.org.