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New Research Shows West Nile

Virus Can Lead to Kidney Disease!

We all know that one reason infection that can lead to kidney
Now there’s new
for using Dayton’s mosquito disease. “As many as 9% of
evidence that a person
control is to protect yourself from people who have mild or no initial
annoying bites and the itching may be susceptible
symptoms may have persistent

they cause. However, even more to kidney disease West Nile virus infection,” says
important than comfort is to Baylor University West Nile expert
years after they have
protect yourself against the threat Kristy Murray, PhD, DVM.
been infected with
of the dangerous West Nile virus. In a study funded by the
Since this virus arrived in the U.S. the West Nile virus.
National Foundation for Infectious

in 1999, an estimated 3 million Diseases, Murray’s team has been
people have been infected. keeping track of about 200 peo-

Contracting the virus from birds, Eight in 10 people infected with ple infected with West Nile infec-
mosquitoes can then transmit
West Nile virus don’t get sick right tion over the last 10 years. About

it to humans which may lead
away, and the virus can burrow 40% of them now are showing

to meningitis, encephalitis, and deep into the body. Years later,
signs of kidney disease and last-
sometimes death.
it can surface with a persistent
ing West Nile virus infection.