In the United States, arboviruses are most commonly spread by mosquitoes. Birds are often the source of infection for mosquitoes, which can then spread the infection to horses, other animals, and people. Prevention depends mainly on public health action to control mosquitoes and on individual action to avoid mosquito bites.
Arbovirus is short for ar thropod- bo rne virus.
In the United States, arboviruses are spread mainly by mosquitoes. Birds are often the source of infection for mosquitoes, which can then transmit the infection to horses, other animals, and people. People are not an essential part of the life cycle for most arboviruses. Arboviruses are found throughout the world. The presence of an arbovirus in a particular area depends on the availability of specific types of mosquitoes that can carry it and specific birds or animals that can be infected.