12 Common Symptoms of West Nile Virus

West Nile Virus is a viral infection that’s most commonly transmitted to humans through mosquito bites; in many ways, it is similar to malaria, and if you know that you will be travelling to an area that has heavy mosquito cover, then you will automatically be at a higher risk and should prepare accordingly. Preparing for a mosquito-heavy area includes precautionary measures such as packing a mosquito net and making sure you have mosquito repellent.

There are some ways in which West Nile Virus can be similar to malaria: But the one huge difference between the two is the fact that you cannot be vaccinated against the West Nile Virus. This means that it can be very dangerous and even fatal if you were to pick it up and it wasn’t diagnosed in time for treatment. Here are 12 of the most common symptoms that you might experience as a result of West Nile Virus and how to alleviate the symptoms.

1. Headache

A constant, nagging headache is one of the first symptoms that you might experience as a result of contracting West Nile Virus; there are several reasons why you might get a headache. The first is the fact that it’s a symptom of the disease itself, and the second reason is the fact that you will be very likely to dehydrate as a result of the condition:

This means that your body will literally dry itself out, and if you’re not replenishing fluid at a rapid enough rate then your organs could start shutting down. But be extremely careful with self-diagnosis: If you have a severe headache, then you shouldn’t jump to think you know exactly what could be the cause of the headache – especially if the condition eventually becomes chronic. See your doctor if you are experiencing a sudden headache, and especially if the headache doesn’t go away with time.