West Nile Virus!

I have many many posts to catch up on--from this year's Summer Camp, to birthday celebrations, to the fact that I'll be slogging through this Week Of Suck (possibly stretching into Weekend of Suck) before I fly to California for a conference (and, of course, to see the Bay Area folks). But as a quick throwaway of things on my mind today, I noticed that I was feeling a bit headachy/groggy during the day, and started getting really bad neck pain/stiffness. Then again, that could be the result of a really long day starting at a monitor.

But then again, last week during Summer Camp, my legs got completely massacred by mosquitos. I still have scabs all over the parts I couldn't swat. I wonder what the symptoms are for West Nile?


Hrm... according to CDC's website:

The symptoms of severe disease (also called neuroinvasive disease, such as West Nile encephalitis or meningitis or West Nile poliomyelitis) include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis.

Also, today's Boston Globe says "West Nile virus has spread across state". Uh oh. However, I just checked my temperature--98.0 F, so no sign of fever.

The worst part is that I can't hear the name of the disease without mentally singing the crock song "West Nile Virus" (to the tune of "Zoot Suit Riot):

West Nile virus (Virus!)
Kills birds, horses and deer,
West Nile Virus (Virus!)
(It's) spread all the way up here!

I think I'll be... what's the right phrase... ruefully amused?... if it turns out to be the case. Seems unlikely, but I'll keep an eye on it. Somebody let me know if I start going comatose.