The best way to prevent West Nile virus infection is to avoid mosquito bites.

• Use mosquito-repellant products containing DEET
• Wear long sleeves and pants
• Drain pools of standing water, such as trash bins and plant saucers (mosquitos breed in stagnant water)

Community spraying for mosquitos may also prevent mosquito breeding.

Testing of donated blood and organs is currently being evaluated. There are currently no guidelines.

Naides SJ. Arthropod-borne viruses causing fever and rash syndromes. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 405.

Bleck TP. Arthropod-borne viruses affecting the central nervous system. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 406.

Images

Mosquito, pupa

Mosquito, adult

Mosquito, egg raft

Meninges of the brain

Mosquito, adult feeding on the skin

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West Nile virus Treatment

Review Date: 09/15/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)