A working mom in Colorado lost her ability to parent her daughter and do her job after contracting a rare case of West Nile virus last year.

Lisa Montez, a 31-year-old Windsor, Colorado native believes she contracted the virus about a year ago while hiking or fishing, once some of her favorite pastimes. 

After getting sick and developing debilitating symptoms, the avid hiker, who enjoyed knitting, reading, and spending time with her daughter, lost the ability to drive, maintain her 50-hour work week as a software developer, and be an attentive mom. 

West Nile, which is contracted through the bite of an infected mosquito and often goes undiagnosed, is mild about 80 percent of the time but the virus can, in severe cases, cause neurological damage such as brain swelling and meningitis.

Roughly 20 percent of people who contract the virus, experience fatigue, fever, headaches, joint pain, rashes, and stomach issues.

Though many people will recover from West Nile without medical treatment, some people, as in the case of Ms Montez, will experience crippling symptoms. 

Lisa Montez contracted West Nile virus in July 2022 and, unlike roughly 80 percent of cases, felt sick almost immediately. She is part of a small group who experience symptoms like migraines, fatigue, fever, and rash. In the most severe cases, the virus can cause brain swelling, convulsions, and paralysis

Lisa Montez contracted West Nile virus in July 2022 and, unlike roughly 80 percent of cases, felt sick almost immediately. She is part of a small group who experience symptoms like migraines, fatigue, fever, and rash. In the most severe cases, the virus can cause brain swelling, convulsions, and paralysis

Lisa Montez contracted West Nile virus in July 2022 and, unlike roughly 80 percent of cases, felt sick almost immediately. She is part of a small group who experience symptoms like migraines, fatigue, fever, and rash. In the most severe cases, the virus can cause brain swelling, convulsions, and paralysis 

Ms Montez developed a rash on her face in addition to other usual symptoms associated with West Nile

Ms Montez developed a rash on her face in addition to other usual symptoms associated with West Nile

Ms Montez developed a rash on her face in addition to other usual symptoms associated with West Nile

West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne disease. It is not spread from person to person but rather through bites from infected mosquitoes. The insects pick up the virus from birds, the natural reservoir for the virus

West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne disease. It is not spread from person to person but rather through bites from infected mosquitoes. The insects pick up the virus from birds, the natural reservoir for the virus

West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne disease. It is not spread from person to person but rather through bites from infected mosquitoes. The insects pick up the virus from birds, the natural reservoir for the virus

Ms Montez said: ‘I had the rash, I had the flu-like symptoms, but instead of getting better like most people do, you feel crappy for a few days, I did not get better. I ended up getting worse and worse and worse.

‘We went from being completely healthy and fine and normal to not – to completely opposite.’

Now, she doesn’t have the energy to partake in her favorite activities, and she experiences migraines, fatigue, balance problems, and trouble focusing.

Her symptoms have also deprived her of the ability to drive because they’ve led to slower processing and diminished multitasking abilities that would allow her to pay attention to surroundings, other cars, speed limits and traffic regulations.

She has also reduced her workload from a rigorous 50-hour work week to part time hours.  

Her husband Abel has had to assume many household responsibilities as well as become the primary caregiver of their six-year-old daughter Aria.

Mr Montez said of their daughter Aria: ‘She just could not understand why, all of a sudden, Mommy can’t play with me. Mommy has to lay down. So she’s really kind of understood, you know, “If Mommy needs to rest, let Mommy rest.”’

West Nile virus is spread to humans through a bite from an infected species of mosquito, the Culex mosquito. The insects become infected with West Nile after feeding on birds, which are common hosts of the virus.

Culex mosquitoes primarily live around stagnant water sources, like the lake Ms Montez lives near in northern Colorado.

The above map shows states that have detected West Nile virus from 2021 to 2022. The incidence rate is per 100,000 people

The above map shows states that have detected West Nile virus from 2021 to 2022. The incidence rate is per 100,000 people

The above map shows states that have detected West Nile virus from 2021 to 2022. The incidence rate is per 100,000 people

Public health authorities have seen an overall global rise in West Nile cases. 

West Nile virus is also the most common mosquito-borne disease in the continental US, with an estimated 2,200 cases annually. And as climate change’s devastating effects rage on, warmer temperatures and longer breeding seasons have helped the mosquito population prosper in the US. 

This has increased the overall risk of contracting the disease. 

Despite her struggles, Ms Montez is determined to use her experience to educate people about West Nile and how it can be prevented

She said: ‘Prevention is prevention, but it’s always in the back of mind that it just takes one mosquito bite to change your life.

‘It really is worth the two minutes to spray on mosquito spray before you go out. It took an entire year of my life and foreseeably more. Two minutes is worth it.’

What is West Nile Virus? What are the warning signs? Is there treatment?

West Nile virus is a disease spread by mosquitoes, which can pick it up from birds.

It was discovered in Uganda in the 1930s and is now found on almost every continent in the world. It reached the U.S. in 1999, likely on a shipment from the Middle East.

The disease now triggers tens of thousands of cases every year, although most go unreported because eight in ten develop no symptoms.

People who catch the disease generally do not show symptoms until three to 14 days later.

Those that do develop warning signs tend to suffer flu-like symptoms, muscle pain and headaches.

About one in 50 cases develop a severe illness, however, where they can face a coma, tremors and paralysis.

About one in 150 patients could also suffer encephalitis— inflammation of the brain — which is life threatening.

There is no specific treatment for West Nile Virus patients, but severely ill patients will be admitted to hospital for close monitoring.

People with mild illness are recommended to get over-the-counter pain relieves to reduce their fever and other symptoms. 

About 70 people die from the disease in the U.S. every year.  

Sources: CDC 

Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk

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