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13-year-old boy hospitalized with severe case of West Nile Virus
USA Today • • health
Key Points:
- A 13-year-old boy, Joseph Vazquez from Long Beach, California, is hospitalized with a severe case of West Nile Virus complicated by Transverse Myelitis, resulting in paralysis and loss of bladder and bowel control.
- West Nile Virus is a mosquito-borne illness with no licensed vaccine or specific treatment, and about 80% of infected individuals show no symptoms; severe neuroinvasive disease occurs in only about 1% of cases.
- Symptoms of severe West Nile Virus can include high fever, stiff neck, paralysis, and nerve pain, as seen in Vazquez’s case, which began with a rash and mild headache before rapidly worsening.
- Treatment for West Nile Virus is supportive, focusing on symptom management and monitoring, with no specific antiviral therapy available.
- Prevention relies on mosquito control measures such as using EPA-registered insect repellents, eliminating standing water to reduce breeding sites, and seeking professional pest management if necessary.
