There are five mayor types of arboviral encephalitis in the United States. Each is caused by a distinctly different virus. Mosquitos acquire the infection from infected birds or mammals which normally are reservoirs of these viruses. Encephalitis is mainly transmitted to man by the bite of an infected mosquito. This virus affects the central nervous system's brain and spinal chord.
Symptoms are fever, headache, muscle weakness, seizures, stupor, coma and sometimes death.
You can help prevent Encephalitis by keeping mosquitos from breeding. Mosquitos grow and develop in standing water. Water standing for just a few days can produce many mosquitos. Empty containers such as bottles, cans, drums, etc. There is a large horse population in the upper and lower valley areas and horse owners are urged to maintain their horse encephalitis vaccinations up to date.