Is there a cure for the West Nile Virus yet?

Not medical advice: There is no cure or specific treatment for the West Nile virus at this time. It can linger for as little as a few days or as long as several weeks.

Symptoms tend to appear between 3 and 14 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. 4 out of 5 people infected never exhibit symptoms.

Up to 20% of people experience mild symptoms like body aches, fever, and headache that don’t generally require medical attention. More serious symptoms like a very high fever, paralysis, numbness, vision loss, muscle weakness, convulsions, stupor, and disorientation warrant a hospital stay. Breathing assistance and intravenous fluids may be required.

In 2012, nearly 700 cases of West Nile virus have already been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention along with 26 deaths. A state of emergency has been called in Dallas County, Texas after more than 200 virus cases have been reported and 10 people have died this year alone.