Symptoms
The incubation period (the interval from infection to the onset of symptoms) ranges from 4 to 14 days, according to the WHO. However, an incubation period of up to 45 days has been reported.
In infected individuals, the virus can cause very severe encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), with a high fatality rate. The central nervous system is affected, causing:
- Altered level of consciousness;
- Seizure;
- Fever;
- Headache;
- Nausea and vomiting;
- Pneumonia cases may also arise.
The first signs of infection are nonspecific, and diagnosis is not suspected at this time. This complicates identification and challenges outbreak detection, as well as effective control measures. Furthermore, the quality, quantity, type, timing of clinical sample collection, and the time required to transfer samples to the laboratory can affect the accuracy of results.
Treatment
There are no specific treatments for the virus — neither vaccines to prevent contamination nor drugs to improve the condition.