Scientists are comparing the effects of West Nile virus to Polio, because they share similar symptoms. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Jenny Lawton has more:
Transcript
Scientists are comparing the effects West Nile Virus to Polio because they share
similar
symptoms. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Jenny Lawton has more:
Researchers say both the West Nile virus and Polio can live in the body for years
before
launching an attack against the nervous system. And there’s evidence both can lead
to other
medical problems years after the initial illness.
In the case of polio, this delay is known as “PPS,” or “post polio syndrome.”
Science journalist, Janet Ginsburg, says those kinds of outbreaks begin with a range
of symptoms.
“And a lot of people had a flu-like illness, just like West Nile fever. These
people today are
showing up with PPS. So you have this model of polio.”
Ginsberg says more research needs to be done before a connection is certain.
There have been fewer than a couple of dozen cases of the West Nile virus in the
Great Lakes
States so far this year.
For the Great Lakes Radio Consortium, I’m Jenny Lawton.