In an effort to bring people some positive news about the West Nile virus, MD Mark Loeb, of the Michael G DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, released the results of his study on the long-term effects of the virus.

According to his research, the recovery process presents no major problems and in less than a year, everything returns to normal. “We found that both physical and mental functions, as well as mood and fatigue, seemed to return to normal in about one year,” Dr. Mark Loeb explained. He considers the research extremely important, as there were no such studies on the West Nile virus available until now.

The study involved the careful observation of 156 Canadian patients infected with the West Nile virus over a period of four years from 2003 to 2007. Some of the patients presented more serious forms of the illness and some less dangerous. The tests measured their mental and physical health, in addition to finding the levels of fatigue, anxiety and depression. There were three sets of tests in the first 30 days, one very ten days, and from that point on, they were tested once a month for a year.

The results showed that in about a year, all the patients present normal levels of fatigue and all their functions, physical, mental and emotional are completely stabilized.

The virus is well known for its potentially serious central nervous system infection and also for flu-like symptoms which include fever, chills, weakness, drowsiness, headaches, excessive sweating, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. The human infection is mostly done through the bite of an infected mosquito.