An Effective Treatment for West Nile Virus Since 2003
by David W. Moskowitz, MD

The approach works best when people first have symptoms of a fever and headache. But we’ve been able to help people even a few years after the initial episode of WNV encephalitis.

The first 8 WNV patients were published in a peer-reviewed medical journal in 2004 (1). We’re eager to see if our approach works again this year. A HIPAA-compliant spread-sheet of our clinical experience to date is available upon request.

Publication in a peer-reviewed medical journal is all it takes for a treatment to officially (i.e. medicolegally) exist.

The drugs we use are already approved by the FDA for blood pressure. Amazingly enough, they’re anti-inflammatory too. Contrary to popular belief, normal people who get sick from the West Nile virus have too strong an immune response to the virus, not a weak immune system. Our approach is meant to gently calm down their exaggerated immune response, the so-called “cytokine storm.” It can be used in the very old, the very young, and everybody in between.

Although the approach is highly controversial among human virologists (the CDC, for example, thinks all WNV patients have a weakened immune response), veterinarians have no problem with it.  They were treating WNV in horses with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs before we came along. We target a step further upstream in the inflammation pathway, and have saved horses that non-steroidal drugs were failing.

But because the CDC doesn't believe us, you've never heard of us. The CDC tells any reporter who asks that they've never heard of us, or that we're making up our data. I know this because I’ve checked back with reporters after they failed to print the story. State epidemiologists all take their cue from the CDC. Reporters for the past 5 summers have chosen to believe the prestigious CDC without looking at the data.

The irony gets even heavier, I’m afraid. I just read that Dr. Lyle Peterson, the CDC’s point man for WNV, actually got infected himself with the virus. I don’t know why, but he never tried our treatment. This illustrates perfectly the problem with the CDC’s current approach of just saying “No” to mosquitoes: it's useless advice once you've been bitten. Fortunately, Dr Peterson wasn’t paralyzed. I contacted him offering to try to treat any lingering symptoms. With WNV, there often are, such as fatigue, headache, weakness, etc.

The next day, Dr Petersen kindly emailed to thank me, but said he felt completely fine. He’s lucky; half of patients still have symptoms 18 months later.

In principle, our approach could be used for almost any virus except the herpes viruses, which seem to do the opposite of other viruses, inducing a state of immune suppression, not immune over-reaction. This is why our approach was included in the BioShield II Act of April 28, 2005, co-sponsored by Senators Lieberman, Hatch, and Brownback. The bill was never debated, but our approach was mentioned in Section 2151 (http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=s109-975). In 2004, I briefed the White House and the Dept of Homeland Security about it. The UN is aware of our approach in the context of bird flu.

The drugs Genomed use cost about $1 a tablet and are carried in every drugstore on earth.  Anybody who wants to download our WNV trial protocol can do so for free at any time by clicking on the "West Nile trial" link on our company’s homepage at www.genomed.com.

And the elderly, who die of infectious diseases at a higher rate than other age groups, may not have a weakened immune system. They may die precisely because they mount a more vigorous immune response to viruses and bacteria than younger patients. 

“Local health officials have predicted that, in some areas, the mosquito population this summer could be five to 20 times the normal number of pests – that’s a lot of biting, itching and scratching,” said Melissa Murray, M.D., family medicine specialist on staff at St. Anthony’s Medical Center.  “While most mosquito bites merely are annoying, they can transmit serious diseases.  They also can trigger allergic reactions and can become infected.”

Health officials recommend eliminating standing water from your property and regularly cleaning gutters, wading pools, birdbaths and any containers that can collect and hold water.

“The best way to avoid bites is to stay indoors during the peak biting periods, from dusk to dawn, and apply insect repellent that contains diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) if you plan to be outdoors when mosquitoes are active,” Dr. Murray said.  “Wear light-colored clothing, since mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors, and avoid using scented soaps, shampoos and lotions.  Wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants and socks that you have sprayed with repellent.”

If, despite your best efforts, you find yourself breaking out with little pink bumps that itch like crazy, there is some relief to be had, Dr. Murray said.  “Apply a hydrocortisone cream, calamine lotion or baking soda paste to the bite several times a day until the itching subsides,” she said.  “Scratching the bites can break the skin and might result in infection.  For more severe reactions, an over-the-counter antihistamine might bring some relief.”

Rarely, mosquito bites can cause severe complications, including serious skin infections, severe allergic reaction and even diseases such as West Nile virus or encephalitis, Dr. Murray said.  “If you experience fever, head and/or body aches, nausea/vomiting, rash, lethargy, confusion, jaundice or sensitivity to light, see your physician right away,” she said.  “Additionally, you should seek medical attention for bites that have become infected or are not behaving like they usually do, since this may be a sign of a potentially serious infection.”

Swelling in your throat, hives and wheezing may be signs of anaphylactic shock, a life-threatening condition, and you must seek immediate medical attention – call 911, Dr. Murray said.

“Complications and severe reactions from a mosquito bite, thankfully, are rare,” Dr. Murray said.  “Mosquitoes, unfortunately, are not.  Protect yourself and your family this summer with a few common-sense precautions and keep the pesky little biters at bay.”