First case of West Nile in Messina. A 74 -year -old retirement showed up in the First Aid of the Papardo hospital with severe headache and high fever. Symptoms that had been accused for six days. The subsequent laboratory exams have ascertained an encephalitis in progress, possible complication and positivity to the West Nile. For her, sheltered in prognosis reserved for the “infectious diseases” department led by the infectiousologist Antonio Albanese, even after the laboratory exams carried out in the UOC of clinical pathology, directed by Dr. Giuseppe Falliti. This is the first case in Messina. In fact, in recent months a outbreak had been identified but among the animals on the Nebrodi. The woman in question resides in a house surrounded by greenery and where mosquitoes proliferate easily.
No alarmism. In 80% of cases, the West Nile virus infection does not produce any symptoms. When it manifests itself, it does it slightly, with symptoms similar to those of a summer influence:
moderate fever; heachache; muscle and joint pain; nausea and loss of appetite and in some cases rash. These disorders usually appear 3–14 days after the sting of the infected mosquito and last a few days or at most a couple of weeks. In serious forms, when it affects the nervous system, in less than 1% of cases, the virus manages to overcome the blood-deceptive barrier, causing a neuroinvasive form, which can be very serious. Complications include meningitis and encephalitis. Neurological symptoms include: high fever and headache. Papardo has activated all the procedures provided for by the ministerial directives on the subject.