Flies and mosquitoes go through what is known as complete metamorphosis . A baby mosquito is a worm that looks nothing like an adult mosquito. In Ohio mosquitoes are important in transmitting viral encephalitis to humans and other animals. In Columbus the Treehole Mosquito and possibly the Asian Tiger Mosquito can transmit LaCrosse Encephalitis while the Northern House Mosquito can carry St. Louis encephalitis and West Nile virus. Tremors, mental confusion, convulsions, and coma may follow.
Treatment is supportive, there is no cure.
SLE occurs in epidemics. The last epidemic in central Ohio occurred in 1975 during which 142 people became ill and eleven of those died. No cases of SLE have occurred in Columbus since 1979. The common Northern House Mosquito, Culex pipens , is the primary vector. West Nile virus is frequently fatal to crows and blue jays.