What are arboviral diseases?
Arthropod-Borne Viral Disease also known as Arboviral
diseases are “a group of viral diseases that are acquired most frequently when
blood-feeding arthropod vectors including ticks, sand flies, biting midges, and
mosquitoes infect a human host.” There are four main clinical symptoms or
illnesses that are caused by arboviruses, the first being that of acute central
nervous system illness. The second symptom is acute self-limited fevers
sometimes with a rash present on the body. The third symptom is hemorrhagic
fevers with capillary leakage, shock and high fatality rates. The fourth
clinical symptom associated with arthropod born viral disease is polyarthritis
and rash without a fever and can last for duration of time.
Arthropod vectors such as mosquitoes transmit some of the
following illnesses, “In the United States, mosquitoes can spread West Nile
virus, California serogroup viruses (California encephalitis, La Crosse
encephalitis, and Jamestown Canyon), Eastern equine encephalitis virus, Western
equine encephalitis virus, and St. Louis encephalitis virus.” Infections are
the highest for West Nile virus and La Crosse virus during the warmer months of
the year when mosquitoes and tick are most active.
St. Louis encephalitis is the most commonly transmitted
human pathogen in the United States. “West
Nile is a mosquito-borne zoonotic arbovirus belonging to the genus Flavivirus.”
This is found in topical and temperate regions of the world. “Approximately 80%
of West Nile virus infections in humans are sub-clinical, which cause no
symptoms. In the cases where symptoms do occur termed West Nile Fever in cases
without neurological disease the time from infection to the appearance of
symptoms is typically between two and fifteen days.”
The best and most effective way to avoid West Nile virus is
to prevent mosquito bites. According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, some ways people can prevent themselves from being infected with
West Nile virus, “when you are outdoors, use insect repellent containing an EPA
registered active ingredient. Also, make sure you have good screens on your
windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out.”
Essentials of Environmental Health: Robert H. Friis
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