West Nile Treatment

If you could dodge the raindrops, you'd know the mosquitoes are biting. So far this year, there have been nine confirmed cases of West Nile Virus, but most victims never know they have the disease.

Sunday, August 19th 2007, 2:53 pm

By: News On 6

If you could dodge the raindrops, you'd know the mosquitoes are biting. So far this year, there have been nine confirmed cases of West Nile Virus, but most victims never know they have the disease. An infectious disease specialist told us 80% of West Nile victims never even seek treatment. Their own immune systems defeat the disease in about a week or two.

Those who do go to the doctor complain of flu-like symptoms, like headaches, fever and nausea. And since West Nile is a virus, there's really no treatment for the disease. Doctors will treat the symptoms and let the virus run its course.

Sometimes doctors won't even test for West Nile, opting instead to start treating symptoms of the flu. Dr. Peter Okwuasaba has done the tests, especially on high-risk patients over 50 who could develop severe symptoms like seizures, convulsions, or even comas.

He says the number of West Nile victims could double from last year.

"At least in Tulsa, I've seen two already this season, and I'm anticipating there might be more because of the high rainfall we had. I'm not surprised at all,â€ said Okwuasaba.

Okwuasaba says mid-August to mid-September is the worst time for West Nile virus. For most, the prescription is just rest, lots of fluids and a pain reliever like Tylenol, but in a few cases, West Nile can be fatal.

The virus killed 177 people last year. Six were in Oklahoma.