Symptoms of West Nile Virus, transmitted by mosquito bites, include fever, headache, and body aches, occasionally with a skin rash on the trunk of the body and swollen lymph glands. West Nile Virus infections have now been reported in nearly all areas of the United States.
The symptoms of severe infection (West Nile encephalitis or meningitis) include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis. It is estimated that 1 in 150 persons infected with the West Nile virus will develop a more severe form of disease.
Antibodies are present from 3 to 14 days after infection, so it is recommended that this test be done two weeks after the suspect mosquito bite. Symptoms may last several weeks. Some people may develop a brief illness (early symptoms) before they develop more severe disease, though the percentage of patients in whom this occurs is not known.
You may order this test online, or for more information call LabSafe toll free at 1-888-333-LABS to speak with one of our medical counselors.
