NOT WEST NILE!!!

[RichieB16]

To be honest, I don't know that much about the illness.  Is it really that dangerious?  It kind of sounds like a bad flu to me, and many people do die of the flu every year.

[Jaffa]

And too bad and can't keep up my favorite hobby...letting them 'skeeters fill up with my blood, then splat them!  They pop!

[Woodlouse2002]

What exactly is this disease?

[SideWinder9]

I just know it is a very bad virus that can kill you. Don't want to catch it....

[ChuckMajik]

I just know it is a very bad virus that can kill you. Don't want to catch it....

Pretty much all viruses can kill you.
Most of this West Nile stuff is just media hype.

[Hagar]

What exactly is this disease?

Read the link I posted earlier. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/medical_notes/2604083.stm

West Nile Disease

West Nile Disease is a virus which is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito.
Last year alone it killed 280 people in the States and recent tests have shown that it could be present in UK birds, although there have been no cases of the disease in the UK.

How is it spread?

The virus is normally transmitted by mosquitoes which suck the blood of infected birds and then feed on humans.

There is no evidence to suggest that West Nile can be spread from person to person.

Just watch out for those mossies. Nasty things they are.

[RichieB16]

It seems to me like it is a lot of media hype.  I know that this is something that you don't want to get-but you don't want to get any virus.  To me, it sounds like it is just a fly-like illness and it can become very bad in people who don't have strong immune systems (just like the flu).

[Woodlouse2002]

That doesn't explain it for me. Saying its a virus spread by mosquito's might be fine for some people but not for me. What is it? What does it do? And all the other questions you want to know the answers to.

[Craig.]

it is basically a really bad flu bug, it can kill those who dont have a strong immune system, or are in poor physical health, thats why the elderly and young tend to be more at risk

[RichieB16]

Well, it says that most people who are infected have flu like symptoms (stomach cramps, fever, ect) for a few days and then it goes away.  As Craig said, for those with health problems it can be serious-just like the normal flu.

[BFMF]

That doesn't explain it for me. Saying its a virus spread by mosquito's might be fine for some people but not for me.

If a mosquite bites, and sucks blood from an infected person/bird and then sucks blood from you, you can get infected.

[Woodlouse2002]

Thank you. I'm seeing it as some sort of cross between SARS and Malaria at the moment.

[gaztop]

Are the Scientists of the world experimenting on us without us knowing?
Where do these viruses come from? They dont just appear over night!
I mean, there's this Mosquito having a nosebag by the river, suddenly, he turns to his misses and says;
"Oh no! I've just got that west nile thingy!"

I don't think so, someone, somwhere, is playing with thier chemistry set!
Spooky eh

[Meyekul]

Are the Scientists of the world experimenting on us without us knowing?
Where do these viruses come from? They dont just appear over night!

Viruses mutate and evolve just like all other living things (thought some people will argue that viruses aren't living things).  That's why there is no cure for the common cold, because there is no "common" cold.  There are countless variations of the cold virus and thus no way to effectively vaccinate against it.  Same deal with West Nile and SARS and all that; they just happen to be particularly nasty variants of viruses that already existed in nature.  

To answer the first question, yes, it has hit my area (Kentucky) with a few cases.  We have TONS of mosquitos here too; they just love our wetlands.

[gaztop]

Well, I did some research, and most of the viruses we know today are the result of genetic malfunctions brought on by man's abuse of nature. So say the Eco people.

I also discovered, that the British government released several influenza and cold viruses from London Bridge back in the 50's and 60's to see how far they would travel. They still do this today, as do other governments around the world.
Some years ago, a prominent scientist comited suicide when he discovered that a mutated virus he had been
working with, escaped into the atmosphere!
Where do they draw the line?