Arboviral Infections
(arthropod-borne encephalitis, eastern equine encephalomyelitis, St. Louis encephalitis,
California encephalitis)

What are arboviral infections?

Arboviral infections are a family of viral diseases that cause a variety of illnesses. Some cause infection of the brain and spinal cord, and the soft tissues surrounding them. Others cause illnesses with fever and rash, blood system disorders, hepatitis, and muscle pain. Most arboviral infections are reported during years of high mosquito activity, especially in the warm weather months. Arboviruses are not generally present in Hawaii.

How do you get it?
You can get arboviral infections from mosquitoes, ticks, and certain types of flies that feed on blood. Everyone is susceptible to arboviral infections, but young children and the elderly are diagnosed with them more frequently.

What are the symptoms of arboviral infections?
Persons infected with a particular virus frequently have no symptoms at all or report only mild illness. Others will have only a low fever and/or headache. However, in serious arboviral infections, the symptoms can include a severe headache with high fever, confusion, tremors, seizures, paralysis, coma, or even death.

When do symptoms start?
Depending on the specific type of arbovirus, the symptoms can start 2 to 15 days following the bite from an infected mosquito, tick, or blood-feeding fly.

What is the treatment for arboviral infections?
Other than trying to make the patient comfortable, there is no specific treatment for arboviral infections.

Should an infected person be excluded from work or school?
No. There is no direct transmission of arboviruses from person to person.

If you get an arboviral infection once, can you get it again?
No. Infection with an arbovirus gives protection against that specific virus, and perhaps against similar viruses.

How can you keep from getting it?