Arboviruses

"Arbovirus" is the name given to Arthropod-borne viruses, that is, viruses that are transmitted to vertebrates, such as people and mammals, by blood-feeding insects called arthropods, such as mosquitoes. Vertebrate infection occurs when the infected insect bites an animal or person and takes a blood meal.

In North Carolina, there are three main arboviruses that are transmitted to both people and animals by various types of mosquitoes:

• West Nile virus (WNV)
• Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE)
• La Crosse encephalitis (LAC)

While not classified as arboviruses, there are also three bacterial diseases that are transmitted to people by ticks in North Carolina. Those tick-borne illnesses are Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Lyme disease, and Ehrlichiosis (see Tick-borne Illness).

Most cases of arboviral disease occur from June through September, when mosquitoes are most active. Arboviruses usually cause either no symptoms or mild, flu-like illness, but they can cause more serious conditions, including encephalitis, meningitis, meningoencephalitis, and even death.

Mosquito-borne illness can be prevented in two major ways: personal protective measures and reducing the population of infected mosquitoes. Personal measures include reducing time outdoors particularly in early morning and early evening hours; wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts; and applying mosquito repellent to exposed skin areas. Measures to reduce mosquito populations include eliminating mosquito breeding areas and, sometimes, spraying of insecticides to kill juvenile (larvae) and adult mosquitoes. (See Preventing Mosquito Bites and Precautions for Minimizing Pesticide Exposure During Mosquito-Control Spraying.)

For more information:

• Summer Camping...with no bites brochure (pdf)*
• North Carolina Public Health recommendations for safe use of personal insect repellents
• North Carolina Public Health recommendations for school use of DEET insect repellent
• North Carolina Public Health precautions for minimizing pesticide exposure during mosquito-control spraying
• North Carolina Public Health Pest Management web site
• CDC Arbovirus Website: Arboviral Encephalitides, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Press Releases

2009

• N.C. Health Officials Encourage Residents To ‘Fight The Bite!’, NC DENR 5/15/09

Press Releases from Previous Years

Arbovirus Topics

• West Nile virus (WNV)
• Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE)
• La Crosse encephalitis (LAC)
• Precautions for minimizing pesticide exposure during mosquito-control spraying
• Preventing Mosquito Bites
• Safe Use of DEET Insect Repellent (for Adults and Children)
• School Use of DEET Insect Repellent

*Some resources are in a pdf format to make reading and printing easier. You may need to download the free software Adobe Reader 9.0 (or higher) to access them.

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