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Missouri teen paralyzed by rare virus as he clings to life on a ventilator
An 18-year-old boy from Missouri has been paralyzed from the neck down and can only breathe with the help of a ventilator after contracting West Nile virus.
John Proctor VI, affectionately known as 'BB,' first started experiencing headaches, and dizziness earlier this month, and within a few days, his speech became slurred, and he wasn't able to lift his arm or smile, local NBC-affiliate KSDK reported.
The boy's parents, who feared their son may be having a stroke, rushed him to the ER on August 11. After tests were performed, doctors revealed that their son contracted the sometimes deadly mosquito-born disease.
According to Dr. Farrin Manion, Mercy St. Louis Department of Medicine Chair, explained, Proctor's case is rare: 'A small fraction will actually develop neuro-invasive disease which is the attack of the virus on our nervous system, the brain or the spinal cord.'
Currently, there is no vaccine or treatment, and his parents pray that their son 'makes a full recovery'.
John Proctor VI is on ventilator to help him breathe after being diagnosed with West Nile virus. His parents, John Proctor V and his mom stand by his bedside
The 18-year-old had just graduated high school in the Spring
The teen had just graduated high school in the spring, and was working to become a diesel mechanic.
His dad said in a GoFundMe that he got sick 'out of nowhere,' and then 'progressively worse within days.'
On Sunday, doctors at Barnes Jewish Hospital St. Louis told him that their son contracted a severe case of West Nile Virus.
'Doctors finally figured out what caused such havoc in our son’s previously healthy body. Our son contracted a severe case of West Nile Virus from a mosquito bite right here in North St Louis County,' Proctor said, in part.
He said his son is now recovering from a 'stroke and pneumonia'.
On Monday, he shared that doctors removed the breathing tube from his mouth and gave him a trach to start breathing, as well as rehab and physical therapy.
'Our son is very weak at the moment making small but vast improvements with ability to move his right arm and both legs. His left arm is still very weak he can’t move his neck or sit up in his own,' Proctor said.
Proctor holds up high school diploma from McCluer High School
The boy's father John Proctor V, is praying that his son makes a full recovery for a virus where there is no treatment or vaccine
'Doctor say this will be a marathon to try and get him back to what he was before this virus almost killed him.
'Please continue to keep BB lifted up in prayer, pray for our family and his friends during this traumatic time and keep doctors and medical staff elevated in prayer as well.'
Approximately one in 150 people experience severe symptoms from the West Nile Virus that affects the central nervous system including, inflammation of the brain or meningitis, and inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as per NBC News.
Symptoms include neck stiffness, headache, disorientation and paralysis. The recovery can take weeks or months, and some effects can be permanent.
Earlier this month, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former chief medical advisor to President Biden, was hospitalized for nearly a week with the West Nile virus infection.
Fauci told the health and medicine publication STAT that 'he'd never been as sick in my life'.
'I really felt like I'd been hit by a truck,' the 83-year-old physician said. 'By far, this is the worst I've ever been with an illness.'
West Nile virus is a flavivirus, a viral family that includes St. Louis encephalitis virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, and Powassan virus, according to the health publication.
Earlier this month, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former chief medical advisor to President Biden, was hospitalized for nearly a week with the West Nile virus infection
West Nile virus is a flavivirus, a viral family that includes St. Louis encephalitis virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, and Powassan virus, according to the health publication.
The virus is spread by infected mosquitoes and is the leading cause of mosquito-borne illness in the United States, and there are usually no symptoms unless, but those who do have symptoms can become very ill.
There is no vaccine to protect against the mosquito-borne illness, and no specific antiviral drugs to treat it.
Intravenous fluids and pain medications are used to treat severe cases.
Experts explain that the months of August and September are peak season and when most cases surface.
The best way to protect yourself is to limit your time outdoors and to wear bug spray.
As of Thursday afternoon, the family's GoFundMe has raised nearly $2,000 toward their goal of $10,000.