Disease Information

 

 

Western Equine Encephalitis

Western equine encephalitis is a disease that is spread to horses and humans by infected mosquitoes. It is one of a group of mosquito-borne virus diseases that can affect the central nervous system and cause severe complications and even death. Other similar diseases are eastern equine encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, and LaCrosse encephalitis.

Symptoms:  Infection can cause a range of illnesses, from no symptoms to fatal disease. People with mild illness often have only a   headache and sometimes fever. People with more severe disease can have sudden high fever, headache, drowsiness,   irritability, nausea, and vomiting, followed by confusion, weakness, and coma. Young infants often suffer seizures.

West Nile

The West Nile virus (WNV) is most often spread to humans from the bite of an infected mosquito. The WNV normally cycles between mosquitoes and birds. However, people may also be infected if they are bitten by a WNV-infected mosquito. Most cases of WNV are probably not acquired in the workplace but there are some workers at risk of WNV infection. Outdoor workers are at risk of WNV infection from the bite of an infected mosquito. Workers who perform necropsies of infected birds or handle WNV-infected tissues or fluids are also at risk of WNV infection if their skin is penetrated or cut.

Workers at risk of exposure to WNV include those working outdoors when mosquitoes are biting. Outdoor workers at risk include farmers, foresters, landscapers, groundskeepers and gardeners, painters, roofers, pavers, construction workers, laborers, mechanics, and other outdoor workers. Entomologists and other field workers are also at risk while conducting surveillance and other research outdoors.

Symptoms:

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/symptoms.htm