WEEV
Togavirus family. Diameter: 70 nm. Genome size:
11-12 kb.
Description: Togaviruses have ssRNA, are enveloped, (+) sense, and
monopartite. WEEV is part of the Alphavirus genus.
Power: ARBOvirus which attacks inhabitants of North and South
America.
Offenses:
Attacks --> spread from small birds (natural reservior) through
mosquitoes (Culex tarsalis) to humans (and horses).
Outcome --> affects the CNS, causing encephalitis and severe
complications in 13% of cases and death in 3% of cases. Symptoms
include
fever, headache, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, confusion, weakness,
and
coma.
Speed --> 5-10 day incubation period.
Defenses:
Vaccines --> none.
Behavioral --> avoid mosquito bites. In high-risk areas, stay
inside during dusk and dark, wear long pants/sleeves when
outside,
and use insect repellent.
Treatment --> none for infected patients, although mosquito
control techniques are being used in areas with large mosquito
populations.
Game Action --> Flip a coin. If heads, a WEEV-infected mosquito
bites a horse - not your opponent.
WEEV...yet another reason to move to the south of
France!
References:
Medical Virology pp. 418, 424
WEEV Web
Page
Witney
McKiernan
Arenavirus
2000 Home
Humans and Viruses
Human Biology 115A
Winter, 2000
Robert Siegel, instructor
Comments?
Created: February 1, 1998
Last modified: March 5, 2000