What is St. Louis encephalitis?
It is a major disease caused by a mosquito borne virus that may affect the central nervous system in humans. Infected birds provide the source of viral infection for blood feeding mosquitoes (usually Culex mosquitoes). Birds will often show no symptoms of infection and once recovered will be immune to the virus for the remainder of their lives. Occasionally infected mosquitoes transmit the virus to humans and animals. Where is it found and how common is it in humans? The virus was first isolated in 1933 during an epidemic in St. Louis, Missouri and has since been detected in epidemics occurring across the country. One of the last major outbreaks occurred in Florida and Texas in 1990.The disease is not common in Virginia. What are the symptoms in humans? Mild symptoms include headache and fever. More serious symptoms include additional symptoms such as stiff neck, disorientation, coma, paralysis and death. Who is at greatest risk? Deterioration of infrastructure in highly populated area
