Of all of the viruses that Dr. Anthony Fauci studied during his decades serving as the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, it was West Nile that landed him in the hospital recently.
Fauci, the former chief medical adviser to the Biden administration, was home on Saturday, according to his spokesperson. “A full recovery is expected,” the statement read.
What is West Nile, and how are people infected?
It’s mosquitoes — particularly Culex mosquitoes — that spread the virus.
Since West Nile was first detected in the U.S. in 1999, it’s become the most common mosquito-borne illness in the country.
The bugs become infected when they bite sick birds, then spread the virus to people through another bite.
Cases tend to peak in August and September, often following rainy seasons. The bugs lay eggs in standing water.
So far this year, 216 human cases of West Nile have been reported in 33 states, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The illness caused what’s known as neuroinvasive disease, such as brain inflammation, in 142 of those patients, the CDC reported.
What are the symptoms of West Nile?
Thousands of people are infected with West Nile each year, though the majority never know it because they don’t develop symptoms.
According to the CDC, about 1 in 5 people will experience:
- Fever
- Headache
- Body aches
- Vomiting and diarrhea
Symptoms typically appear between three and 14 days after being bitten.
Serious complications including meningitis, paralysis and death can occur, but are much more rare — affecting about 1 in 150.
People over age 60 are at higher risk. Fauci is 83 years old.
How to protect yourself against West Nile
There is no specific treatment or vaccine for West Nile.
Despite growing evidence that Culex mosquitoes may be becoming resistant to some insecticides, experts maintain that common repellents such as DEET and picaridin work well at keeping the bugs at bay.
Other ways to avoid mosquito bites include:
- Dressing in loose-fitting clothing that covers both arms and legs.
- Using air conditioning when possible, or making certain that open windows and doors have screens.
- Emptying standing water from common items around the exteriors of houses, such as bird baths, flower pots and toys, where mosquitoes can lay their eggs.
