Spring brings about rain and growing gardens with all types of plants. But unwanted pests could be growing nearby also. Mosquito-borne illnesses captured national attention last August when a virus new to the Western Hemisphere caused an epidemic in New York City. The newly introduced virus was West Nile Virus, a type of arbovirus transmitted by mosquitoes that acquire it from infected birds. The 1999 West Nile Virus outbreak caused illness and some deaths in humans, birds, and horses.
Severe disease is characterized by seizures, coma and paralysis.
Although arboviral encephalitis is a notifiable infectious disease in Oklahoma, reports of human illness are sporadic. Western Equine Encephalitis, St. Louis Encephalitis, and La Crosse Encephalitis are the three different arboviral infections most likely to occur in Oklahoma. While mosquitoes are a definite nuisance, they also carry disease. Always wash abrasions and scratches well with soap and water. See a health care provider if an irritated mosquito bite exhibits extensive soreness, tenderness, or if fever develops.