The wetland virus, recently discovered in China, has raised concerns among health officials due to its potential to cause illness in humans. From symptoms to prevention, here’s everything you need to know about this emerging vector-borne disease.
A new virus, known as wetland virus, has recently been discovered in China. The newly identified virus can be transmitted to humans through tick bites and cause neurological diseases in some cases. This emerging vector-borne disease has raised concerns among health officials and researchers due to its potential to cause illness in humans. Here’s everything you need to know about wetland virus, from symptoms to prevention:
Causes of Wetland Virus
The wetland virus was first identified in June 2019 in a 61-year-old patient who fell ill after being bitten by ticks in a wetland in Inner Mongolia. Ticks are tiny parasites that feed on the blood of animals and humans, and are known to transmit several diseases. Since the virus is spread through ticks that inhabit wetlands or similar environments, that is why it is called the wetland virus.
Signs and symptoms
Well, the symptoms of the wetland virus are still being investigated. People infected with this virus experience symptoms such as:
- Fever and chills
- Fatigue
- Persistent headaches
- Body aches
- Skin rashes
- Dizziness
Prevention
In such situations, the best possible form of prevention to avoid contracting the wetlands virus is to prevent tick bites. Other recommendations include:
- Cover up: Wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, and boots whenever you venture into wooded, grassy, or wetland areas.
- Use insect repellents: Apply a tick repellent containing DEET or lcaridine to both your skin and clothing.
- Check for ticks: After spending time outdoors, be sure to always check your body for ticks and remove them immediately. Also, be sure to shower within two hours of being outdoors to wash off any loose ticks.
