West Nile Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, La Crosse Encephalitis and dog Heartworm
West Nile Virus
What is West Nile Virus?
West Nile Virus is a bird disease which is spread to humans and animals by mosquitoes.
Mosquito-borne diseases that are caried by mosquitoes are called arboviruses. West Nile virus first appeared in Georgia in 2001. The Georgia Department of Public Health coordinates with healthcare providers and professionals, veterinarians and wildlife biologists to help reduce human risks for the virus.
How is West Nile Virus Spread?
West Nile Virus is a bird disease which is spread to humans and animals by infected mosquitoes.
Symptoms of West Nile Virus:
West Nile Virus in humans is generally asymptomatic but about 1 in 5 people develop a fever and other symptoms. Only about 1 in 150 people develop a serious or sometimes fatal illness.
Symptoms include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Swollen glands
- Possible rash
In rare cases, symptoms may include:
Contact your healthcare provider if you are experiencing serious symptoms
- Confusion
- Coma
- Possible death
- Contact your healthcare provider if you are experiencing serious symptoms
Prevention of Mosquitoes and Mosquito Bites:
West Nile Virus and Horses:
What Horse Owners Should Know about West Nile Virus
For additional Information Visit: https://health.state.ga.gov or
www.CDC.gov/west-nile-virus/prevention/index.html
Eastern Equine Encephalitis
Eastern equine encephalitis virus is spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. It circulates in the environment between mosquitoes and birds typically found in swamps. EEE can be spread to people and some other animals (horses and emus). People and horses are considered “dead-end” hosts meaning that they do not spread the virus, to mosquitoes that bite them.
There is a vaccine for horses.
Only a few cases are reported in the United States each year. Most cases occur in eastern or Gulf Coast states.
Although rare, eastern equine encephalitis is very serious. Approximately 30% of people who develop severe eastern equine encephalitis die, and many survivors have ongoing neurologic problems. Symptoms of eastern equine encephalitis can include fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, behavioral changes, and drowsiness.
There are no vaccines to prevent or medicines to treat eastern equine encephalitis.
You can reduce your risk of infection with eastern equine encephalitis virus by preventing mosquito bites.
La Crosse Encephalitis
La Crosse virus is spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. Most cases occur in the upper Midwestern, mid-Atlantic, and southeastern states.
Most people infected with the virus do not have symptoms. Initial symptoms can include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. Some people may develop severe disease, including encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). Severe disease occurs most often in children under 16 years of age.
There are no vaccines to prevent or medicines to treat La Crosse. You can reduce your risk of infection by preventing mosquito bites.
Dog Heartworm (Dirofilarias)
Dirofilaria are long, thin parasitic roundworms that infect a variety of mammals. Infection is transmitted by mosquito bites. There are many species of Dirofilaria, but human infection is caused most commonly by three species, D. immitis, D. repens, and D. tenuis. The main natural hosts for these three species are dogs and wild canids, such as foxes and wolves.
Dirofilariasis is the disease caused by Dirofilaria worm infections. In dogs, one form is called “heartworm disease” and is caused by D. immitis. D. immitis adult worms can cause pulmonary artery blockage in dogs, leading to an illness that can include cough, exhaustion upon exercise, fainting, coughing up blood, and severe weight loss.
The definitive mammalian hosts for Dirofilaria are primarily domestic dogs, wild canids (such as wolves and foxes), and raccoons. In these hosts, sexually mature worms produce microfilariae that circulate in the blood and are ingested by mosquitoes during a blood meal. In mosquitoes, microfilariae develop into larvae that migrate to the proboscis (the long, tubular part of the mouth of the mosquito that punctures the skin during a blood meal), where they are ready to infect another host during a blood meal. Several types of mosquitoes are capable of transmitting Dirofilaria infection, including Aedes, Anopheles, and Mansonia.
Humans and a wide range of other mammals are accidental hosts that play no role in the transmission of Dirofilaria. In these hosts, Dirofilaria larvae can develop into adult worms, but the worms remain sexually immature, and no microfilariae are produced.
Dirofilariasis can be prevented by avoiding mosquito bites in areas where mosquitoes may be infected with Dirofilaria larvae. The risk of such mosquito bites can be reduced by leaving as little skin exposed as possible, using insect repellent when exposed to mosquitoes, and by sleeping under an insecticide-treated bed net in areas where Dirofilaria-infected mosquitoes bite at night and have access to sleeping areas.
Dogs should be on a monthly heartworm prevention especially during mosquito season in Georgia (April through October). Heartworm prevention can be prescribed by your veterinarian. The statistics for heartworm in Georgia are very high, 50% of dogs not on prevention will have the disease in 1 year, 90% of dogs not on prevention will have heartworm disease within 5 years. This disease is deadly if not treated. Prevention is the best possible solution.
