Health authorities on the lookout for West Nile virus in Guanacaste
December 11th, 2014 (InsideCostaRica.com) Health authorities are on the lookout for the West Nile virus in the Santa Cruz area of Guanacaste after the National Animal Health Service (SENASA) detected the virus in a horse, Director of Health Surveillance, Mary Ethel Trejos, told CRHoy.com on Wednesday.
The West Nile virus, originally discovered in Africa, is rare in Costa Rica, and in the worst cases can lead to serious and life-threatening medical conditions such as encephalitis, which causes swelling of the brain and spinal cord. There is currently no vaccine against the virus, which is spread by mosquitos.
While many infections show no symptoms, authorities urge those who live in the area and experience symptoms of the virus – fever, headache, fatigue, muscle pains and aches, malaise, nausea, vomiting, and rash – to seek medical treatment.
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