A Georgia woman has been left “virtually paralyzed” from the waist down after falling ill with a mosquito-borne infection dubbed Anthony Fauci.
Anne Dillard of Atlanta was rushed to the emergency room after she passed out at home this month and was unable to stand.
She was diagnosed with West Nile virus, for which Dr. Fauci was hospitalized earlier this month. She said she also experienced a rash that spread from her stomach to the rest of her body.
The move comes amid concerns about mosquito-borne diseases in the U.S. Cities in several states are now spraying streets to kill the bloodsuckers.
Anne Dillard of Atlanta, Georgia, said she was left “virtually paralyzed” by her infection with West Nile virus
She spoke to local news organizations from her hospital bed at Emory University Hospital in Georgia
Among those who died from the infections was a healthy 41-year-old man from New Hampshire who was diagnosed with mosquito-borne Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE).
Her diagnosis came shortly after that of Dr. Anthony Fauci (pictured)
Mrs. Dillard took her case to the local station 11Alive after being inspired by Dr. Fauci and telling her story via Zoom from her hospital bed.
She responded to the diagnosis as follows: ‘It’s all just completely insane.
‘I’ve been bitten by mosquitoes in the summer all my life, but I never thought about it.’
She added: ‘From my mid-core down I am practically paralysed. I can feel it, but the muscle strength is gone. I can’t sit up, stand or walk.’
Mrs. Dillard believes she was infected by a mosquito bite near her home in the Atlanta area.
The chart above shows West Nile virus epidemics by year since 1999, when it first appeared in the US.
Above you can see all the provinces where West Nile virus has been detected so far this year
Her symptoms also included lethargy and not wanting to eat much in the days before she collapsed.
Ms. Dillard added that she only found out she had West Nile virus 10 minutes after Dr. Fauci announced his diagnosis.
West Nile virus entered the United States in New York City in 1999. Since then, it has become the most common mosquito-borne disease in the country and has spread to every state in the U.S.
It is estimated that about 2,200 people become seriously ill with the disease each year, while 180 people die from the infection each year.
About 80 percent of people who are infected have no symptoms, and about one in five develops fever, headache or muscle aches before the symptoms go away.
Less than one in 150 patients suffers from a serious illness caused by a disease affecting the central nervous system.
Warning signs include muscle weakness, numbness, paralysis, and, in more severe cases, convulsions.
People over 60 years of age or who have underlying conditions are at greater risk of developing the disease.
There are no specific medications for West Nile virus. Patients are treated with rest, fluids, and over-the-counter pain relievers.
Doctors say the fatigue and weakness caused by the disease can last for weeks or months before a person recovers. In addition, most patients do not fully recover from the paralysis.