While there are no symptoms that point only to encephalitis, some signs that may indicate the disease include headaches, fevers, excessive tiredness and a stiff neck. The victims may also have seizures. Only a blood or spinal fluid test can confirm the disease. If you develop these symptoms, you should see your health care professional immediately. The disease is not spread from horses to humans.
Infected mosquitoes are necessary to spread the disease.
There is no treatment or human vaccine for most mosquito-borne illnesses. The best weapon is to protect yourself from mosquito bites and work to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your house. State public health and agriculture officials continue to watch for signs of the West Nile Virus, another mosquito-borne brain infection. That illness has yet to show up in Iowa or any of our neighboring states. The state of Iowa intends to submit an application for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Covering Kids and Families initiative.