What is Saint Louis encephalitis?
Saint Louis encephalitis, or SLE, is a mosquito-transmitted viral disease. It was first recognized in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1933. Epidemics occur sporadically throughout the United States. During an epidemic, several hundred people may become ill, sometimes fatally. Symptoms of SLE are similar to other viral infections and may include high fever, nausea, severe headaches and tiredness. The severity of the symptoms varies from person to person. They range from no symptoms at all to mild flu-like systems to severe flu-like symptoms and even death. Only 1 in 200 people who become infected with SLE virus will develop disease. The likelihood of developing SLE symptoms is generally higher for older people. Only a few species of mosquito in a particular area are generally capable to transmitting SLE. Mosquitoes pick up the virus in the blood of wild birds, which are carrying the disease. The birds are usually not sick themselves. The virus incubates in the mosquito’s body and eventually mig
