WALCHEREN FEVER Meaning and
Definition
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Walcheren fever is a medical term that refers to a historically significant infectious disease. It is named after the Dutch island of Walcheren, where a devastating outbreak occurred in 1809. Walcheren fever is also known as "Walcheren's disease" or "the Walcheren fever syndrome."
Walcheren fever is caused by the mosquito-borne virus known as the West Nile virus, specifically the strain called "Neuroinvasive West Nile virus disease." The disease presents as a flu-like illness characterized by symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, muscle aches, fatigue, rash, and occasionally nausea or vomiting. In severe cases, neurological complications can arise, including meningitis, encephalitis, or paralysis.
The virus is primarily transmitted to humans through mosquito bites, primarily the Culex species. It circulates between mosquitoes and birds, and humans are considered incidental hosts. The virus was first identified in the West Nile region of Uganda in 1937, but it gained international attention after the outbreak on the Dutch island of Walcheren.
The outbreak in Walcheren, which was occupied by French and British forces during the Napoleonic Wars, affected thousands of soldiers and led to high mortality rates. The disease made a significant impact on the military campaigns in the area. The outbreak drew attention to the role of mosquitoes in disease transmission and sparked further investigations into mosquito control and prevention.
Today, Walcheren fever is a term used to refer to the historical events of the 1809 outbreak, rather than a contemporary medical disease. Advances in medical knowledge and public health measures have significantly reduced the incidence and impact of the disease.
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Malarial fever formerly endemic in parts of Holland.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for WALCHEREN FEVER
- qalcheren fever
- aalcheren fever
- salcheren fever
- ealcheren fever
- 3alcheren fever
- 2alcheren fever
- wzlcheren fever
- wslcheren fever
- wwlcheren fever
- wqlcheren fever
- wakcheren fever
- wapcheren fever
- waocheren fever
- walxheren fever
- walvheren fever
- walfheren fever
- waldheren fever
- walcgeren fever
- walcberen fever
- walcneren fever
Etymology of WALCHEREN FEVER
The etymology of the term "Walcheren fever" is derived from the name of the Dutch island of Walcheren, located in the southwestern part of the Netherlands.
During the Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th century, the British army launched an unsuccessful military campaign in Walcheren against French forces. The campaign resulted in a significant number of British soldiers falling ill, predominantly from diseases such as malaria, dysentery, and typhoid fever. These diseases were prevalent in the marshy areas of Walcheren due to the unsanitary conditions and stagnant water.
The term "Walcheren fever" was later coined to refer to the specific febrile illnesses contracted by British soldiers during this campaign. It became synonymous with the various diseases prevalent in the region at that time.
Similar spelling word for WALCHEREN FEVER
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