Pathogenic Microbes Essay

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Pathogenic Microbes The West Nile Virus – named for the place is first isolated The West Nile Virus (WNV) is a blood-borne virus of the “family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). It was first isolated in Uganda and is indigenous to sections of Asia and the Middle East. It was discovered in the Americas in 1999 (Cowan and Talaro). WNV has become a common illness and is now in most of the United States. The virus is mainly transmitted to humans through an infected mosquito bite. Studies show that 80% of infected persons do not develop symptoms; the other 20% experience fever, headache, and fatigue. Eye pain, swollen lymph glands, and a skin rash on the body’s trunk may be seen occasionally. The disease can be prevented by applying insect repellent on exposed skin when outdoors. You can also wear long sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors, and stay away from mosquito breeding areas such as places such as, pools and ponds between dusk and dawn. There is no specific treatment for WNV however, sever cases may require “hospitalization, intravenous fluids, respiratory support, and prevention of secondary infections” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Human papillomavirus – the most common STD Human papillomavirus (HPV) belongs to the family Papoviridae and is the causative agent of genital warts (Cowan and Talaro). There are more than forty types of genital HPV. The most common mode of transmission is through direct contact and it “is the most common sexually transmitted infection” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). It is estimated that nearly 20 million people in the US are infected at this time. Some individuals may not develop genital warts, the most common symptom, when infected with the virus. Most females will grow warts in or around the vagina and on the vulva (Cowan and Talaro). Warts

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