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The swelter of summer prompts us to wear little clothing and busy ourselves with outdoor activities from dawn till dusk, without thinking twice. Meanwhile blow-up pools sit in stagnant water for days in our backyards, outdoor fountains are used at longer intervals, and the free-standing water at the bottom of our potted plants collects as we increase the frequency of our watering. Each of these areas is literally a breeding ground for mosquitoes, who by their very nature have the ability to spread debilitating diseases like the West Nile virus.

Symptoms of the West Nile virus were first spotted in New York in the summer of 1999. Mosquitoes were infected with the virus from biting infected birds, and were then able to quickly spread the virus to humans across the United States. Because the symptoms of the virus are similar to that of influenza, most people do not even realize they are infected with it until they see a doctor. More commonly the symptoms appear as abdominal pain, fever, headache, fatigue, nausea, rash, and a sore throat among others, and disappear within 7 to 10 days. More severe cases, like West Nile encephalitis and West Nile meningitis, can be life threatening, inducing coma, loss of consciousness, and muscle weakness.

Prevention during this time of year is key. Wear a light long sleeve if you go out in the afternoon or at night, and if mosquitoes are prevalent where you live it might be a good idea to invest in a mosquito net to hang around your bed when you sleep. If you are bit however, I would suggest taking an anti-microbial agent like olive leaf extract or allicin, which is garlic extract. Anything to fight the bite!

References:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0004457/