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CNN Live At Daybreak

West Nile Virus Symptoms and Prevention

Aired August 09, 2002 - 06:13   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Of course Washington, D.C. is also grappling with its first human case of the West Nile Virus, but it certainly isn't the only place where people are becoming infected. Five have died in Louisiana. So we wanted to make you aware of the symptoms and just how dangerous the situation is.

Joining us live now, Janice Winston, the Infection Control Director at Morehouse School of Medicine here in Atlanta.

Thanks for coming in this morning.

JANICE WINSTON, INFECTION CONTROL DIRECTOR, MOREHOUSE MEDICAL SCHOOL: Thank you for having me.

COSTELLO: So tell us, first off, how dangerous is this situation?

WINSTON: Well I think the danger if we could think of -- at it -- think about it from a prevention perspective is that the symptoms are so similar to so many other illnesses and sometimes there aren't any symptoms at all or they may be very mild. Some of those symptoms may be like fever, headache, nausea or vomiting, photophobia, some of the arthralgias, myalgias, so the body...

COSTELLO: OK, you're talking over our heads now.

WINSTON: Well the body reacts something -- with symptoms such like flu-like symptoms, OK. So with those symptoms we know that you can present and then there must be testing and then maybe more testing just to make certain that it is what we think it is. And then because it's so mild sometimes, then we have to be -- to be very careful and know that the complications if it's not treated.

COSTELLO: Well let's go back just a little bit. You said the symptoms are flu-like symptoms,...

WINSTON: Yes.

COSTELLO: ... but how can you tell whether it's West Nile Virus as opposed to just the regular flu? I've heard some people get rashes when they have West Nile.

WINSTON: That's very true. The rashes would be seen in the neck areas, in the trunk of the body. You'd also find it in the extremities of the body. So -- and that rash is probably one of the most typical signs, if you will.

COSTELLO: So it's just a red rash?

WINSTON: Yes, it's just a red rash, unfortunately.

COSTELLO: And it's coupled with fever and other flu-like symptoms?

WINSTON: Yes. Yes. So if you see all of those things in combination, then you might want to see your doctor.

COSTELLO: Oh yes.

WINSTON: Yes.

COSTELLO: Well let me ask you this question because usually elderly people who are infected with the West Nile Virus become really sick...

WINSTON: Right.

COSTELLO: ... and they are the ones most likely to maybe die from the disease.

WINSTON: Yes.

COSTELLO: If you're a young person and you get West Nile, you might not have the rash or very strong symptoms, but can you...

WINSTON: Right.

COSTELLO: ... pass the West Nile Virus along to others?

WINSTON: Well we know that we cannot pass the West Nile Virus on by contact, if you will, from person to person. We know that this is something that you would contract by way of mosquito bites. So as far as...

COSTELLO: So I -- if I have the West Nile, I can't give it to you,...

WINSTON: No.

COSTELLO: ... only a mosquito?

WINSTON: A mosquito.

COSTELLO: An infected mosquito?

WINSTON: An infected mosquito, if you will, too. And children are vulnerable because of their immune systems. Of course the elderly as well. So we have to be really concerned that we make certain that our immune systems are in tact and we think about the age that is most prevalent, if you will, for contracting the disease West Nile Virus.

COSTELLO: So really the only way you can protect yourself is to wear mosquito repellant?

WINSTON: Mosquito repellent. We also have to make certain that our bodies are covered. What we would call in the health care profession, if you will, standard precautions. You would wear long sleeves, you would wear long pants, you would use the repellent, as you have said. You'd just do very practical things. You stay inside, you know,...

COSTELLO: Yes.

WINSTON: ... during the times when you know that the mosquito is out, early morning, late evening, you stay inside so that you don't have that potential risk for exposure.

COSTELLO: And we're going to have to take these precautions not just this summer but probably in the summers to come...

WINSTON: Yes.

COSTELLO: ... because this isn't going away?

WINSTON: This isn't going away, unfortunately, because we see that it is -- there's a potential here for an endemic, if you will, here in the United States. Even though we don't want to cause any alarm, we know that particularly in the southern areas of, as you mention, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, we have seen cases of people who are infected with this and then we have the death that we have to be concerned about. So there is a potential risk there that the chance is that there is going to be more...

COSTELLO: Right.

WINSTON: ... is there.

COSTELLO: Right. OK, so protect yourselves and get rid of that standing water in your backyard.

WINSTON: Yes, that's right.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Janice, for coming in this morning.

WINSTON: Thank you.

COSTELLO: We appreciate it.

WINSTON: Thank you.

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