A PREVIOUSLY healthy teenage boy was left paralysed from the neck down and fighting for his life on a ventilator after contracting a deadly virus from a mosquito bite.
John Procter VI, known as “BB” to his family, got sick “out of nowhere” after being bitten by a mosquito carrying the West Nile virus.
The teen suffered a rare and severe reaction to the tropical illness, which causes little to no symptoms in most people but can be serious – even fatal – in others.
A number of cases of the West Nile Virus have been spotted in the US in recent months, amidst growing alarm over the threat of mosquito-borne viruses.
Infections have also cropped up in Europe, with 13 countries across the continent reporting cases, according to the most recent figures released by the European Center of Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
Mozzies carrying the West Nile virus have been spotted in holiday hotspots like Italy, Greece and Spain.
Just last week, two people in Seville, Spain, were reported dead after catching the virus, bringing the total death toll in the region up to five.
John, a recent high school graduate from St Louis County, Missouri, started complaining of headaches and dizziness around August 8.
His dad John Procter V told NBC News that a doctor dismissed the 18-year-old’s symptoms as a tension headache and dehydration, saying he needed rest.
His family took him back to the hospital after John started “violently vomiting”, only to be told he had a “stomach bug”.
The teen was sent home with over-the-counter meds but his symptoms worsened – he struggled to keep anything down and he developed a burning hot fever.
Medics at a different hospital also thought John might have a stomach bug or meningitis, but tests for that came back clear.
John was once again sent home, but he became lethargic, his speech was slurred and he struggled to raise his arms.
“I recognised that he was in some sort of distress, and I believed he was having a stroke,” his dad told NBC News.
“I just picked him up and carried him to the car.”
About 80 per cent of people with West Nile Virus won’t have any symptoms.
But those that do have them might experience:
Source: World Health Organization
John was admitted into intensive care and placed on a ventilator.
But it wasn’t until August 25 – 16 days after he was first admitted – that doctors were finally able to pinpoint “what caused such havoc in our son’s previously healthy body”, John’s dad wrote in a GoFundMe appeal.
The family was told that the teen had contracted a severe case of West Nile virus from a mosquito bite.
John V said his son had suffered “a stroke and pneumonia” as a result.
“It’s hard to fathom how such a small, insignificant creature can take a perfectly, 100 per cent healthy human being and make it so that they can’t even move or support their head,” the dad told NBC News.
Though he was able to have his breathing tube removed on August 26, John still has a long way to go in his recovery.
“Our son is very weak at the moment making small but vast improvements with ability to move his right arm and both legs,” John V said in the fundraiser post.
“His left arm is still very weak he can’t move his neck or sit up in his own.
“Doctor say this will be a marathon to try and get him back to what he was before this virus almost killed him.”
The dad asked for donations to help ease the “unexpected financial burdens” brought on by John’s illness and hospital stay.
“Your generous contributions will go directly towards supporting John’s “BB’s” post-medical treatment and rehabilitation expenses, ensuring he can focus on his recovery without added worry,” he wrote.
“Any donation, big or small, brings us closer to helping John “BB” get back on his feet.
“Let’s rally around John “BB” and show him our love and support during this challenging time.”
West Nile virus is most commonly spread through the bites of infected mosquitoes.
The virus won’t cause symptoms in most people, but about 20 per cent develop West Nile fever, which leaves sufferers with aching bodies, vomiting and skin rashes.
One in 150 people infected with the West Nile virus may also develop severe neurological disease that triggers seizures, muscle weakness and paralysis, the World Health Organization (WHO) warns.
The virus is commonly found in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America and West Asia.
The Fit for Travel website says if you are travelling to an area affected by diseases such as malaria, dengue fever and yellow fever, spread by mosquitoes, you should take action to protect yourself.
Some mosquitoes are more active in the day time while others at night – so it is important to protect yourself at all times.
It says: “If you develop a high temperature (fever) either during or after travelling to an affected area, you should seek medical advice as soon as possible and give details of your recent travel history.”
To protect yourself:
Use a good quality insect repellent
The higher the strength, the longer the repellent should prevent mosquitoes landing on you.
An effective repellent contains at least one of; DEET (50% concentration for areas where there is malaria), Icaradin/Picardin (at least 20% concentration, Eucalyptus citriodora oil, hydrated, cyclized (at least 30% concentration), IR3535 (but not for malaria areas).
Apply:
Loose clothing
Mosquitoes can bite through tight clothing, so loose-fitted clothing is ideal.
Consider a high neckline, long sleeves, long trousers and socks.
Remember to apply insect repellent on areas not clothed.
Mosquito nets
Mosquito nets can protect you at night when sleeping and are even better if treated with insecticide.
Check for any holes in the net before using it. If a hole is apparent, then this should be mended.
You should tuck the net under your mattress or ground sheet during the night, and either collapse it down, or keep it tucked up during the day to stop insects flying under and into the net.
But disease-carrying mozzies have increasingly started making European countries their home, encouraged by warmer temperatures.
An ECDC spokesperson recently said: “West Nile virus (WNV) season is in full swing in Europe.
“The expected seasonal increase of locally acquired infections in Europe was observed as of July this year, indicating that the transmission season is well under way.
“At the European level, the total number of cases reported so far this year is within the expected range, even though the number of cases in Greece and Spain are higher than in previous years.
“Clinical and severity indicators are also similar to previous years.
“All regions affected this year were either previously affected or had neighbouring regions that have reported cases.”
