|
St. Louis
encephalitis
is prevalent in North and Central America and is the most important
mosquito-borne disease in the USA.
It has caused several large
epidemics in recent years, the clinical picture ranging from mild
febrile illness to frank encephalitis and the case fatality ranging
from 2 to 20 per cent.
The disease
is generally milder in children than in adults, but in those children
who do have disease, there is a high rate of encephalitis. The elderly
are at highest risk for severe disease and death.
St. Louis
encephalitis is caused by the St. Louis encephalitis virus, which is
an arthropod borne
flavivirus.
It is
related to Japanese encephalitis virus (Visit:
Japanese Encephalitis
)
Wild birds act as the reservoir and Culex
mosquitoes
as the vector.
Diagnosis is
based on tests of blood or spinal fluid.
|
