Mosquito bites are now something to be more concerned about as the United States is experiencing one of the largest ever West Nile outbreaks on record. There is also concern about Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), another mosquito borne virus that can cause severe illness in humans.
Such arthropod borne viruses, or arboviruses, can cause fever, headaches, body aches and potentially serious illnesses and death. To date, CDC reports 1,118 cases of West Nile in 42 states, including 41 deaths.
Celia Hagan, a Senior Specialist for Infectious Disease Programs at the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL), discusses the reasons behind the surge in arboviruses and the role of public health laboratories in the crisis.
Read the rest of the story at APHL Lab Log.
