How does one know if encephalitis is currently being transmitted by mosquitoes?
Local mosquitoes control programs and laboratories throughout the state have developed several monitoring techniques to determine the presence of Saint Louis and eastern encephalitis The mosquitoes, which carry encephalitis primarily, feed on birds. One method of monitoring these viruses is by using caged chickens strategically located throughout the country. A small blood sample from each chicken is taken periodically and tested for antibodies to Saint Louis or eastern encephalitis. If antibodies are found, this indicates the chicken has recently been exposed to encephalitis virus that was transmitted through the bite of a mosquito, Because those mosquitoes may also feed on humans, there is an encephalitis risk. Another recently developed method of detecting the presence of encephalitis in wild mosquito populations involves trapping mosquitoes, grinding them up and testing for encephalitis RNA. If present, the potential exists for transmission to humans. This test is called CR (polyme
