Mosquitoes infected with West Nile Fever virus found in northern Israel
The West Nile Fever is not contagious and can only be transmitted to a person bitten by an infected mosquito.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFFA Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito is seen on the skin of a human host in this 2014 picture from the Center for Disease Control. C. quinquefasciatus is known as one of the many arthropodal vectors responsible for spreading the arboviral encephalitis, West Nile virus (WNV) to human beings through thei(photo credit: REUTERS)
Mosquitoes infected with the West Nile Fever virus have been discovered in Nahal Yavniel in northern Israel, Maariv reported Wednesday. The West Nile Fever is not contagious and can only be transmitted to a person bitten by an infected mosquito.The Environmental Protection Ministry has requested that the Lower Galilee Regional Council continue to monitor the situation and to carry out pest control measures if necessary.The West Nile Virus, which can sometimes be fatal, is caused by a virus transferred through species of mosquitoes called Culex and the Asian tiger mosquitoes which became carriers by biting infected birds, according to the Environmental Protection Ministry.Most people exposed to the virus do not develop symptoms of the disease, and the majority of those that do, suffer from flu-like symptoms such as fever, headaches and muscle aches. A small percentage of people bitten however, can develop an infection in the brain, which can lead to paralysis, brain damage and death. The Environmental Protection Ministry has provided a list of ways prevent mosquito breeding and development.The ministry's methods mainly include monitoring water sources, such as preventing the unnecessary flow of water; removing stagnant water; preventing the dumping of waste into bodies of water and removing vegetation that interferes with the flow of water, except in habitats with high ecological values.Celia Jean contributed to this report.
