Mosquito-borne Diseases in Ohio

West Nile Virus (WNV)
West Nile virus is a disease transmitted to people from the bite of an infected mosquito. It has been commonly found in humans, birds and other animals in Africa, Europe, Western Asia and the Middle East. The virus attacks the central nervous system causing symptoms ranging from fever and headaches to encephalitis which can be fatal. For most people the risk of catching West Nile virus is low. People over fifty and those with compromised immune systems are the most likely to display symptoms.

The most human cases reported in Ohio were 441 in 2002.  In 2008 there were 15 human cases reported and one death in Ohio.  There were no human cases in Franklin County.  The last human case reported in Franklin County was in 2006.

For more information about West Nile Virus, visit these links:

CDC Fact Sheet: West Nile Virus: What You Need To Know

Zoonotic Disease Program West Nile Virus on Ohio.gov

La Crosse Encephalitis (LCE)
La Crosse encephalitis is a viral disease spread by infected mosquitoes. It is native to the upper Midwest and Appalachia, and was first diagnosed in La Crosse, Wisconsin in 1963.  The virus can cause symptoms including fever, headache, nausea, fatigue, and vomiting. More severe effects usually occur in children and can include seizures, coma, paralysis, and permenant brain damage. These symptoms typically occur 5 to 15 days after being bitten.  Children under sixteen and those with compromised immune systems are at the greatest risk. There is no vaccine available and treatment focuses on alleviating symptoms.

Since 2000 there have been 165 human cases of La Crosse encephalitis reported in Ohio with at total of 9 human cases reported in Franklin County.

For more information about La Crosse Encephalitis, visit these links:

Information on Arboviral Encephalitides on the CDC

Zoonotic Disease Program Mosquito-borne Diseases on Ohio.gov

St. Louis Encephalitis (SLE)
In the United States, the leading cause of epidemic mosquito-borne encephalitis is St. Louis encephalitis.  According to the Centers for Disease Control, less than 1% of SLE viral infections are clinically apparent and the vast majority of infections remain undiagnosed.  Illness varies in severity from a mild headache to inflammation of the tissue surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

According to the Ohio Department of Health, “Nationally, widespread epidemics of SLE have occurred. The largest and most recent one occurred in 1975 in the Midwestern states, resulting in 1,815 cases. 416 of
those, including 29 fatalities, were from Ohio. Between 1976 and 2007, Ohio has documented only 26 cases.”

For more information about St. Louis Encephalitis, visit these links:

Information on Arboviral Encephalitides on the CDC

Zoonotic Disease Program Mosquito-borne Diseases on Ohio.gov