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'Survivor's' Lisa Whelchel tweets diagnosis of West Nile virus

She's still out there fighting (and scheming) on "Survivor: Philippines," but former "Facts of Life" star Lisa Whelchel recently tweeted that she's got a different sort of battle on her hands now: West Nile virus.Whelchel's "Survivor" stint is still airing on CBS, but she's been home for some time, having taped those episodes this spring. As Andy Dehnart of "Reality Blurred" noted, WebMD indicates
Lisa Whelchel.
Lisa Whelchel.CBS / Today

She's still out there fighting (and scheming) on "Survivor: Philippines," but former "Facts of Life" star Lisa Whelchel recently tweeted that she's got a different sort of battle on her hands now: West Nile virus.

Whelchel's "Survivor" stint is still airing on CBS, but she's been home for some time, having taped those episodes this spring. As Andy Dehnart of "Reality Blurred" noted, WebMD indicates that symptoms for West Nile occur within 14 days after being bitten by a mosquito, so it is unlikely that she contracted the virus during the course of the show.

According to researchers, West Nile is a virus transmitted after a mosquito bites an infected bird, then bites a human. It can weaken the immune system and symptoms include fever, abdominal pain, sore throat and rash. More severe versions can lead to a change in ability to think clearly and coma, according to the National Institute of Health's PubMed Health site.

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