It’s been more than 10 years since the first case of West Nile Virus appeared in the United States, but it’s still a risk that affects outdoor workers during the summer months.

Transmitted by mosquitoes, West Nile Virus symptoms can range from as mild as a fever, to as severe as encephalitis or meningitis.

Most forms of heat illness can be avoided by following basic prevention guidelines. Even so, it's essential for athletes and coaches to know the warning signs of developing heat-related emergency and understand the level of severity of each condition. (see: Heat Illness - Symptoms and Severity)

Normally, our body temperature is regulated by sweating. A number of factors can limit the sweat response, including intense exercise in high temperatures or high humidity, age, obesity, fever, dehydration, illness, medications and alcohol. When anthlete develops a heat illness, it usually occurs after several hours of exertion and excessive sweating that leads, first to dehydration, and then to electrolyte imbalances.