Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former chief medical adviser to the Biden administration, recently landed in the hospital due to a West Nile virus infection. West Nile is a virus spread by mosquitoes, particularly Culex mosquitoes, and has become the most common mosquito-borne illness in the U.S. since its detection in 1999. This year, 216 human cases of West Nile have been reported in 33 states, with 142 patients experiencing neuroinvasive disease such as brain inflammation.
Symptoms of West Nile include fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, and diarrhea, with serious complications being rare but more likely in people over 60. There is no specific treatment or vaccine for West Nile, but common repellents like DEET and picaridin are effective at preventing mosquito bites. Other ways to protect against West Nile include wearing long, loose-fitting clothing, using air conditioning or screens on windows and doors, and removing standing water from around the home where mosquitoes can breed.
Despite evidence of mosquitoes becoming resistant to some insecticides, experts emphasize the importance of using repellents and other preventative measures to reduce the risk of West Nile infection. Fauci, who is 83 years old, is expected to make a full recovery from his recent illness.
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