CA: St. Louis Encephalitis case reported in Kern

[Shiloh]

Source: https://news.yahoo.com/st-louis-ence...190400358.html

St. Louis Encephalitis case reported in Kern
John Donegan, The Bakersfield Californian
Fri, July 7, 2023 at 3:04 PM EDT·1 min read

Jul. 7—The first human case of St. Louis encephalitis virus has been reported in Kern County, and a health alert has been issued, the Kern Public Health Services Department said Friday.

"This first confirmation of a mosquito-borne illness in a Kern County resident should serve as a serious reminder that we all need to protect ourselves against mosquitoes," said Brynn Carrigan, director of Kern County's public health department...

[Mary Wilson]

What is St. Louis Encephalitis Virus and How Does It Spread? - VDCI

St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) belongs to the virus family Flaviviridae and is related to Japanese encephalitis virus. The virus was first recognized in 1933 when an epidemic in St. Louis, Missouri resulted in over 1,000 cases of encephalitis. Several epidemics have occurred sporadically throughout the U.S. since then, with the majority of cases occurring in eastern and central states.

SLEV is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes from the genus Culex contract the virus when feeding on infected birds, and then pass the virus to humans. Wild birds, such as sparrows, pigeons, blue jays, and robins, are the primary hosts of SLEV. Humans are dead-end hosts, meaning that once infected with the virus they cannot transmit it to other humans. Transmission of the virus occurs primarily in late summer and early fall in temperate areas, and occurs year-round in the south.

Symptoms of St. Louis Encephalitis Virus Infection

• Most people infected with SLEV will show no symptoms and only a small number of cases result in St. Louis Encephalitis (SLE) disease.
• Those who do become ill may experience fever, headache, nausea, and tiredness.
• Severe infections will result in high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation, and possibly coma, tremors or even death.
• Mortality ranges from 3% to 30% in those that develop SLE disease, and is largely dependent on age.

Treatment of St. Louis Encephalitis Virus Infection

• Care is based on symptoms, as there is no cure or specific treatment for SLE disease.
• For severe cases of illness, supportive treatment includes hospitalization, IV fluids and respiratory support. ...

https://www.vdci.net/vector-borne-di...public-health/