Louisiana is full of mosquitoes. Sometimes it feels like they could carry you away. With mosquitoes, comes the West Nile virus.

It is usually transferred to humans by mosquitoes. Using mosquito repellent can reduce the chance of you catching this virus. There are no medications or vaccines for the virus. However, most people never show any symptoms of it.

Symptoms and treatment

1 in 5 people will have a fever and other symptoms like with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. There are severe symptoms in few people. It can affect you nuerologiclly with coma, disorientation, and paralysis.

There is no treatment for this virus. Over-the-counter medications can help deal with the fever and the headache. In severe cases, patients often need to be hospitalized to receive supportive treatment, such as intravenous fluids, pain medication, and nursing care.

Prevention and control

Use mosquito repellents to avoid being bit by them. Some people are allergic to deet, which is a chemical in most mosquito repellents. Some oil of lemon eucalyptus works just as well if you happen to be allergic to deet. However, that bug spray costs more money.

Mosquitoes bite through thin clothing. Wearing long sleeves when the weather permits also prevents them from biting you.

Avoid activities during prime mosquito biting hours dusk and dawn. The less time you spend outside during these hours, the less bites you will likely get.

Avoid leaving standing water around. Mosquito larvae thrive in in still water.

Statistics and maps

There was a total of 47 states and the District of Colombia had cases of West Nile virus as of January 17, 2017. 2,038 cases of West Nile virus was reported to the CDC.

That is a lot of states affected by the virus.

West Nile virus is a national issue. Mosquitoes are all over the United States. You may think the map is dramatized; however, it is not.