Safety Talk

Many outdoor workers are at risk for West Nile virus. This virus is fairly new to North America, but it has spread rapidly. In humans, most West Nile virus infections cause either no symptoms or a mild flu-like illness. Severe infections include high fever, stiff neck, disorientation, tremors, muscle weakness and paralysis. The most severely affected patients may suffer an inflamed brain or brain membranes, or spinal cord or both. Severe cases may be fatal. Incubation time — from mosquito bite to symptoms — may be from three to 15 days. West Nile virus normally passes between mosquitoes and birds, but […]