What Is Eastern Equine Encephalitis?

Equine encephalitis is a rare disease caused by a virus and transmitted by mosquito vectors. Eastern equine encephalitis is a disease caused by eastern equine encephalitis virus, while western equine encephalitis is caused by western equine encephalitis virus. Venezuelan equine encephalitis is caused by Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus. Equine encephalitis virus can invade the central nervous system, cause serious complications, and cause death. Patients may experience only mild cold symptoms (including headache, fatigue, fever, vomiting, and cervical infarction), and severe symptoms may include encephalitis, coma, and death. Equine encephalitis is mainly found in North, Central and South America.

Equine encephalitis

Equine encephalitis

Equine encephalitis is a rare disease caused by a virus and transmitted by mosquito vectors. Eastern equine encephalitis is a disease caused by eastern equine encephalitis virus, while western equine encephalitis is caused by western equine encephalitis virus. Venezuelan equine encephalitis is caused by Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus. Equine encephalitis virus can invade the central nervous system, cause serious complications, and cause death. Patients may experience only mild cold symptoms (including headache, fatigue, fever, vomiting, and cervical infarction), and severe symptoms may include encephalitis, coma, and death. Equine encephalitis is mainly found in North, Central and South America.

Eastern equine encephalitis has a fatality rate of 35%, and 35% of infected people will have mild to severe neurological sequelae. Western equine encephalitis has a fatal rate of 3%, 13% of infected people will have sequelae of the nervous system, and more children will have sequelae. Venezuelan equine encephalitis has a fatality rate of 1%, with a high mortality rate for young children and the elderly.

Equine encephalitis transmission

Equine encephalitis is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. Eastern horse encephalitis is spread by birds and several mosquitoes. Western equine encephalitis virus transmission is more complex, relying on birds and Culex mosquitoes that live on farms and irrigated areas. Venezuelan equine encephalitis is a zoonotic natural epidemic. Hosts include bats, birds, rodents, horses, and donkeys. Aedes aegypti is the main vector for human transmission.

Anyone can get equine encephalitis, but those who visit or live in areas where equine encephalitis is endemic, or who are required to work outside or participate in recreational activities in those areas, have an increased risk of contracting it.

Equine encephalitis prevention

At present, there is no effective vaccine for the prevention of equine encephalitis in humans, only one vaccine for horse apples. Therefore, the best prevention method is to avoid mosquito bites. The measures to prevent mosquito bites are as follows:-

Travelers should always wear long-sleeved shirts and pants;

Accommodation in air-conditioned or mosquito nets;

If the place to stay does not have mosquito-repellent or air-conditioning facilities, it is best to use mosquito sprays and sleep in mosquito nets.

Mosquito repellent on exposed skin (preferably containing DEET; DEET; but when used for children, the concentration should not be higher than ten percent);

Mosquito repellent on exposed skin (preferably containing DEET; DEET; but when used for children, the concentration should not be higher than ten percent);

How to treat equine encephalitis?

At present, there are no special drugs that can effectively treat equine encephalitis. Treatment mainly deals with symptoms and complications.