A former professional wrestling champion recently faced his most fearsome competitor yet; a mosquito infected with West Nile virus.
Fabio Caruso, 40, better known as The Sicilian Slammer in the ring, was working in his garden in Whitestone, New York, in September last year when he was bitten by a mosquito.
At the time, the fighter was recovering from a kidney transplant, so his immune system was suppressed, allowing the virus to quickly spread uncontrollably in his body and become a serious infection.
As his condition deteriorated, Caruso was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at NYU Langone.
Respiratory failure and lower body paralysis prevented him from breathing on his own and he had to be put on a ventilator to stay alive.
And due to the severity of his symptoms, the athlete experienced high fever and memory loss for more than two months.
According to the CDC, people with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, and people who have received organ transplants, are at higher risk of serious health complications from West Nile virus because their immune systems are suppressed.
After more than ten months in the hospital, Mr. Caruso was well enough to be discharged and was admitted to the skilled nursing facility at New Gouverneur Hospital, where he enrolled in an intensive rehabilitation program for six months. .
Fabio Caruso, 40, better known as The Sicilian Slammer in the ring, contracted West Nile Virus, which left him paralyzed from the neck down.
While recovering from a kidney transplant, his immune system became suppressed and the virus quickly became a serious infection.
The New Yorker said he was baffled by how a simple mosquito bite quickly turned his entire life upside down.
He recalled: ‘When I arrived at Gouverneur, I was still in a lot of pain and wondering why this was happening to me.
“I was discouraged and didn’t care about getting better.”
Despite being hesitant at first, Caruso quickly realized the benefits of rehabilitation and regaining his health.
During his hospital stay, the former weightlifter and wrestler required 24-hour assistance, including a motorized lift to transfer to the bed and assistance from two people for positioning.
Week after week, his strength improved and he used a standing aid to gain mobility and balance, while physical therapy helped reduce pain and improve his range of motion.
Caruso’s wife, Irene, said his sports experience helped him during the recovery process.
She explained: “Fabio was always someone who took physical training very seriously, so he used his experiences with weightlifting and wrestling to bring the same motivation to rehabilitation.”
In July of this year, he was finally discharged and allowed to return home to his wife and daughter.
After being stable, Mr. Caruso was admitted to New Gouverneur Hospital, where he enrolled in an intensive rehabilitation program for six months.
Caruso’s wife, Irene, said his sports experience helped him during the recovery process.
When asked what contributed to his healing journey, Mr. Caruso said, “Aside from my faith, it was my wife and seven-year-old daughter who encouraged me to get to where I am today.”
‘Things (also) got better when I started working with my occupational therapist Lina; Within a month, there was a drastic improvement. “Their level of work ethic no longer exists and should be recognized.”
according to youhe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1,240 human cases of West Nile virus have been reported so far this year in the US.
This compares with 1,868 human cases of West Nile disease and 89 deaths during a severe outbreak in 2012, showing that efforts to reduce the virus have paid off.
It usually takes between three and 14 days for the disease to develop.
About 80 percent of infected people are asymptomatic (no symptoms), but about 20 percent will develop a fever.
And about 1,000 people are hospitalized each year in the United States with the most severe form of the disease, which if it spreads to the brain and nervous system, can cause brain inflammation, brain damage and death with a mortality rate of three to 15. percent.
People over 60 are at higher risk of serious illness if infected, as are those with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and kidney disease.
So far this year, there have been 886 severe or “neuroinvasive” cases of West Nile virus in the United States.
There is no specific treatment for the virus or vaccine, but 80 percent of cases are mild and sufferers may experience flu-like symptoms or rashes.
The CDC says the best way to prevent West Nile is to protect yourself from mosquito bites.
Tips for bite prevention include using insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, and using mosquito repellent devices outside and around the house.
The larvicide can also be used to treat any areas where mosquitoes may lay eggs.