West Nile virus (WNV) exposed in Pakistan

The West Nile virus (WNV) in Pakistan has been discovered along with highly pathogenic or disease-causing strains shown up in three blood donors reluctantly raising worries.

West Nile virus (WNV) exposed in PakistanThe West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne virus, strains from up to nine lineages. Of these, lineages 1, 2, and 5 have been linked to encephalitis or brain inflammation outbreaks in humans.

Experts found that the Pakistan virus strains are lineage 1 and were genetically similar to those found in Xinjiang, China and Kerala in India. The major outbreak of this virus is in Karachi.

Experts, including those from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, captured a total of 4,150 mosquitoes in Punjab during 2016–2017 using carbon dioxide traps. They also studied 1,070 serum samples from humans during the years 2016–2018. 

The WNV poses a serious health risk, especially for recipients and blood banks that need to be aware of this possibility. The need for “urgent, nationwide, coordinated surveillance” required to evaluate the distribution and impact of the West Nile virus in Pakistan.

The experts recommended public health measures to put off viral transmission including vector monitoring and control, information campaigns to get better personal protection, and district-level exploitation of screening tests for blood and tissues.