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 yard in Whitestone, New York, in September last year when he was bit by a mosquito.
At the time, the wrestler was recovering from a kidney transplant, so his immune system was suppressed, which allowed the virus to quickly spread out of control in his body and develop into a severe infection.
As his condition deteriorated, Mr Caruso found himself 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 a high fever and memory loss for more than two months.
According to the CDC, individuals with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, and people who have received organ transplants, are at greater 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 New Gouverneur Hospital Skilled Nursing Facility 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
As he was recovering from a kidney transplant, his immune system was suppressed and the virus rapidly developed into a severe infection.
The New Yorker said he was bewildered as to how a simple mosquito bite quickly turned his whole life upside down.
He recalled: ‘When I arrived to Gouverneur, I was still in a lot of pain and questioning why this was happening to me.
‘I was discouraged and didn’t care about getting better.’
Despite being hesitant at first, Mr Caruso quickly realized the benefits of rehab and getting his health back on track.
During his hospital stay, the former weightlifter and wrestler needed round-the-clock assistive support, including a motorized lift for bed transfers and assistance from two people for positioning.
Week by 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 movement.
Mr Caruso’s wife, Irene, said his sporting background helped him during the recovery process.
She explained: ‘Fabio was always someone that took physical training very seriously, so he tapped into his experiences with weight lifting 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 their daughter.
After he was in a stable condition, Mr Caruso was admitted to New Gouverneur Hospital where he enrolled in an intensive rehabilitation program for six months
Mr Caruso’s wife, Irene, said his sporting background 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 where I am today.
‘Things [also] took a turn for the better once I began working with my occupational therapist Lina – within a month, there was drastic improvement. Her level of work ethic doesn’t exist anymore and she should be acknowledged.’
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been 1,240 reported human cases of West Nile virus so far this year across the US.
This compares to 1,868 human cases of West Nile illness and 89 deaths during a serious outbreak in 2012, which shows efforts to curtail the virus have paid off.
It generally takes between three and 14 days for the disease to develop.
Around 80 percent of infected people are asymptomatic (no symptoms), but some 20 percent will develop fever.
And about 1,000 people are hospitalized each year in the US with the most severe form of the disease, which if it spreads to the brain and nervous system, can cause brain swelling, brain damage and death with a three to 15 percent mortality rate.
People over the age of 60 are at greater risk for severe illness if they are infected, as are those with 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 US.
There is no specific treatment for the virus or a vaccine, but 80 percent of cases are mild, where sufferers may experience flu-like symptoms or rashes.
The CDC states the best way to prevent West Nile is to protect yourself from mosquito bites.
Bite prevention tips include using insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, and using mosquito repellent devices outside and around the home.
Larvicide can also be used to treat any areas where mosquitoes could lay eggs.
