Media coverage of the growing number of cases of West Nile Virus infection has been almost constant over the past few months. There is no doubt that the virus is spreading throughout North America and eventually may become an epidemic, but what does this mean for people with HIV/AIDS? First, people who get very sick or die from West Nile Virus include the elderly or those with weakened immune systems (such as transplant recipients, people on chemotherapy, or people with advanced HIV disease). Many healthy people who get the virus do not get sick or even know they have an infection. Obviously, the lower your T cell count, the weaker your immune system is likely to be.

Norma Brown, RN, a Director of Patient Care at Houston's Tenet Park Plaza hospital, points out that most people who die from West Nile Virus infection usually have something else wrong with them that puts additional strain on their health. According to Dr. Joseph Gathe, the best way to treat someone hospitalized with West Nile Virus infection is to treat any other infections and give the patient lots of fluids and nutrition.

The virus is transmitted by mosquitoes that carry it. Incubation time for the virus to infect a person after transmission is anywhere from 5 to 19 days. Some people can actually develop antibodies to West Nile Virus, and definitive test results can usually be received within 48 hours. Symptoms of West Nile Virus infection include disorientation or confusion, altered mental state, and headache. Sometimes nausea or vomiting is also present. A fever is not always present. General precautions include using insect repellant containing the ingredient DEET (for example, OFF! brand repellent), staying indoors between dusk and dawn, wearing long sleeves and long pants when outdoors, and killing any mosquitoes found indoors (swatting or using a spray that kills flying insects).

BOTTOM LINE: West Nile Virus infection kills very few people. Take general precautions (as listed above), especially if you have low T cell counts (say, less than 200). Having HIV does not mean you will get sick or die from West Nile Virus infection.