Man Gets 3 Viral Infections From A Single Mosquito Bite

54-year-old Joe Casey is in the intensive care unit after contracting 3 viral infections from a single mosquito bite.  Joe Casey is a father of 4 and a native of Hampshire- a ceremonial country in southeastern England.

Reports by the New York Post suggest that Casey has been on a ventilator since the beginning of last month after contracting Eastern equine encephalitis, St. Louis Encephalitis, and West Nile virus.

Encephalitis refers to inflammation or swelling of the brain.  These 3 viral infections have caused a swelling in Mr Joe Casey’s brain, rendering him incapable of talking.

Family members shared that Mr. Casey was a healthy and lively man, showing no signs of any brain problems until he was bitten by a mosquito about a month ago. They are shocked that a lone mosquito bite has caused such significant harm.

Besides serving as hosts for the plasmodium parasite that causes malaria, mosquitos also carry disease-causing pathogens such as viruses.  A single mosquito bite can, therefore, be very health-threatening.

Most mosquito-borne viral infections are asymptomatic at the onset but become progressively evident with time.

Common viral infections transmitted by mosquitos include ;

Zika virus. This is a viral infection transmitted by the Aedes mosquito and can cause severe complications in pregnancy, such as microcephaly in unborn babies.

Such babies are born with mental disabilities.  They have unusually smaller heads and brains. This is one of the reasons why pregnant women should sleep in treated mosquito nets at all times

Another viral infection transmitted by mosquitoes is Dengue fever. It results in high fever and excessive blood loss through bleeding. This condition is most common in South Eastern Asia, Latin America, and Africa.  Other signs of Dengue fever include

• Stomach pain
• Vomiting
• Bleeding from the gums or nose
• Blood in  urine, stools, or vomit
• Bleeding under the skin
• Difficulty in  breathing
• Fatigue and tiredness
•  Restlessness

Yellow fever is also a viral infection transmitted by mosquitos. It affects both humans and monkeys.

This viral infection is common in South America and Africa. It is typically associated with jaundice and body aches.

The West Nile virus is transmitted by mosquitoes. The viral infection associated with this virus is most common in the United States. It causes fever and headache.

Mosquito-born viral infections typically share these symptoms

• joint pain
• vomiting
• nausea
• fatigue
• discoloration of the eyes
• headache
• fever
• rash
• chills
• jaundice
• back pain                                                                                                                                                                              Some of the viral infections spread by mosquitos have vaccines that can reduce the risk of contracting them. But the surest way is to protect yourself from mosquito bites.