What is St. Louis Encephalitis (SLE)?
St. Louis Encephalitis, or SLE, is a mosquito-transmitted viral disease. It was first recognized in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1933. Symptoms of SLE are similar to other viral infections and may include high fever, nausea, severe headaches, and tiredness. The severity of the symptoms vary from person to person. They can range from no symptoms to mild flu-like symptoms to severe flu-like symptoms and even death. Only 1 in 200 people who become infected with the SLE virus will develop the disease. The likelihood of developing SLE symptoms is generally higher for older people.
