La Crosse Encephalitis: A Persistent Arboviral Threat in North Carolina.
Mosquito-borne diseases remain a significant cause of economic, social, and health burdens in North Carolina. Although recently overshadowed by emerging threats such as chikungunya virus and Zika virus, La Crosse virus and other endemic arboviruses remain persistent environmental health hazards. Indeed, La Crosse virus, West Nile virus, and Eastern equine encephalitis virus accounted for more than 98% of the reported human arboviral diseases acquired in North Carolina in the past decade. Arbovirus infection is increasingly prevalent in Western North Carolina, with La Crosse encephalitis being endemic in this area. While infections are often asymptomatic and seldom fatal, the long-term neurologic sequelae of La Crosse encephalitis represent a significant burden.
associate professor, Environmental Health Sciences Program, College of Health and Human Sciences, Western Carolina University; supervisor, Mosquito and Vector-borne Infectious Disease Laboratory, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, North Carolina bdbyrd@wcu.edu.
Brian D
BD
Byrd
D002648:Child; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004671:Encephalitis, Arbovirus / Q000453:epidemiology; D004670:Encephalitis, California / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D006801:Humans; D018062:La Crosse virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009032:Mosquito Control; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors