Last class, we
spent a good amount of time learning and discussing about Malaria. While
learning about Malaria in depth, I started realizing how many similarities it
had with the West Nile Virus. I found out that mosquitos were the vectors
that spread both of these illnesses. Also, they both have humans as their
hosts what harbor the disease. Another important part of the
epidemiologic triad is the environment, where both of these illnesses thrive is
tropical, still standing water where it is most convenient for the mosquitos to
breed. Lastly, I thought it was
interesting how they also had similar symptoms.
The main difference is that with Malaria the symptoms are transparent,
where as with the West Nile Virus most have mild to no symptoms at all making
it difficult to identify. With all of
these similarities, the ways to prevent the diseases are also quite
similar. We can reduce the amount of
mosquitos that carry the disease by removing standing water and wearing bug
repellent.
The reason that this
comparison came to mind when we were learning about it in class was because
when my Nonna, grandmother, was in the Intensive Care Unit, the person in the
room next to her was infected with an extreme case of the West Nile Virus.
I would hear the doctors discuss the man’s chances of living outside of
our room. They discussed how he got the
disease from traveling abroad to Africa.
This sparked an interest for me to begin research into the virus. Unfortunately, the man passed away after
being in the Intensive Care Unit for about a month.
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