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.
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.
According to the CDC, about 1 in 5 people will experience:
- Fever
- Headache
- Body aches
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
- Rash
- Swollen lymph nodes
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.
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:
- Wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants when outdoors, especially at dawn and dusk
- Using insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or IR3535
- Draining standing water around your home, such as in bird baths, flowerpots, and gutters
- Repairing or replacing screens on windows and doors
- Keeping doors and windows closed when possible
Erika Edwards is a health and medical news writer and reporter for NBC News and “TODAY.”
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Dr. Marc Siegel breaks down what you need to know about the symptoms, risks and treatment.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and former chief medical advisor to the president, was diagnosed with West Nile virus earlier this month, according to a spokesperson for Fauci.
He is expected to make a full recovery, the spokesperson told Fox News.
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As of Aug. 20, there were 216 West Nile virus cases in the U.S. across 33 states, per the CDC.
Among those, 142 cases were neuroinvasive (severe).
Since the West Nile virus first entered the U.S. in 1999, it has become the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Dr. Anthony Fauci, formerly the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the chief medical advisor to the president, was diagnosed with West Nile virus earlier this month, according to a spokesperson for Fauci. (Getty Images)
In most cases, the West Nile virus — a flavivirus in the same family as yellow fever, dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis and the Zika virus — is spread when Culex mosquitoes bite infected birds and then bite people and other animals, per the CDC’s website.
The virus is not transmitted through eating or handling infected animals or birds — nor is it spread through physical contact, coughing or sneezing.
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A vast majority — around 80% — of the people who contract the virus will not experience any symptoms, the CDC states on its website.
In most cases, the West Nile virus — a flavivirus in the same family as yellow fever, dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis and the Zika virus — is spread when Culex mosquitoes bite infected birds and then bite people and other animals, per the CDC’s website. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images, main, E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images, top right, NIH-NIAID/IMAGE POINT FR/BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images, bottom right.)
“It causes a rash and other symptoms, including swollen lymph nodes, which other viruses in its class do not exhibit,” Dr. Marc Siegel, senior medical analyst for Fox News and clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, previously told Fox News Digital.
“It only affects the nervous system 1% of the time and is rarely fatal.”
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Around one in five people will develop febrile illness, which is marked by a fever along with body aches, headache, joint pain, diarrhea, rash and/or vomiting.
These symptoms usually go away on their own, but some people may have lingering weakness and fatigue months after infection.
West Nile affects the nervous system 1% of the time and is rarely fatal.
In rare cases — about one in every 150 infected people — the virus can lead to serious conditions affecting the nervous system, such as encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord), the CDC states on its website.
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Those who develop serious illness may experience headache, stiff neck, high fever, disorientation, vision loss, muscle weakness, convulsions, tremors, coma or paralysis, which occur when there is viral infection of the central nervous system.
Among people who have this invasive form of the illness, around 10% will die.
It affects the nervous system 1% of the time and is rarely fatal, statistics show.
Around one in five people will develop febrile illness, which is marked by a fever along with body aches, headache, joint pain, diarrhea, rash and/or vomiting. (iStock)
While anyone can potentially develop severe illness, the highest-risk groups include those over 60 years of age, people who have had organ transplants and those with diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, kidney disease, immune disorders and other certain medical conditions.
“The virus’ effects can be quite serious in the elderly,” Siegel noted.
Those who think they might have been infected with WNV should be assessed by a health care provider, the CDC states.
Diagnosis of the infection can be made based on evaluation of symptoms, recent exposure to mosquitoes and testing of blood or spinal fluid.
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Health care providers will typically recommend treating symptoms with over-the-counter pain medications and getting plenty of rest and fluids.
Those who experience severe illness may need to be hospitalized for supportive care.
There is currently no vaccine for West Nile virus.
“The virus can be contained through public health measures including more insect repellent with DEET, longer sleeves and less stagnant water in our backyards,” Siegel said.
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Trying to kill adult mosquitoes by spreading too much insecticide can be problematic, the doctor warned.
“Animals, people with asthma and insects that would otherwise kill the mosquitoes are affected.”
When spending time outdoors, it is recommended that people apply insect repellent containing DEET or other EPA-approved ingredients. (iStock)
The most effective means of prevention is to protect against mosquito bites, the CDC confirmed.
The agency’s recommendations include using insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, and taking steps to control exposure to mosquitoes — particularly at dawn and dusk.
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Eliminating any standing water outdoors can help prevent mosquitoes from breeding.
Fox News’ Michael Dorgan and Danielle Wallace contributed reporting.
Melissa Rudy is senior health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected].
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