If an arbovirus test is a false positive what does that mean?
A. A “false positive” occurs when an initial tests indicates that a person does have WNV or EEE, but a later, more specific tests indicates that the person does not actually have the infection. While it is important for the Maine CDC to get an accurate picture of where people are being infected in order to focus prevention and control efforts, the result does not have a great impact on the individual person. There is no specific treatment that the person would receive due to WNV or EEE. The person may want to work with their physician to see if another cause of the illness needs to be identified.
