 Eastern
and Western equine encephalitis
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the information provided on externally linked pages.
Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) and Western equine
encephalitis (WEE) are rare, severe arboviral diseases transmitted to
humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. Eastern equine encephalitis
virus (EEEV) and Western equine encephalitis virus (WEEV) are in the
same family Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus. In the United States, most of
EEE and WEE cases occurred respectively in the eastern and western
states. Only two cases of EEE have been reported in Wisconsin between
1964 and 2011. Most people infected with EEEV and WEEV have no apparent
illness. Symptoms of illness begin with the sudden onset of high fever,
chills, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Severe illness includes
encephalitis, seizures, and coma.
Arboviral diseases
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General information
EEE
fact sheet (PDF, 12 KB) Hmong (PDF,
14 KB) Spanish (PDF,
16 KB)
Eastern Equine
encephalitis fact sheet - CDC
Western
Equine encephalitis fact sheet - CDC Data and
Statistics National
Eastern Equine encephalitis data - CDC
Prevention
Some tips to protect yourself:
- Use effective mosquito repellant and apply according to the label
instructions.
- Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks, and shoes.
- Mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing, so spraying clothes
with a repellent containing permethrin or DEET will give extra
protection. These repellants are the most effective and most studied.
- Avoid being outside during times of high mosquito activity,
specifically around dawn and dusk.
- Keep window screens repaired so that mosquitoes cannot enter your
home.
- Dispose of discarded tires, cans, or plastic containers left
outside that may contain standing water.
- Drain standing water from pool or hot tub covers.
- Turn over plastic wading pools and wheel barrows when not in use.
- Change the water in bird baths, pet dishes and wading pools every
3-4 days.
- Keep drains, ditches and culverts clean of trash and weeds so
water will drain properly.
- Clean gutters to ensure they drain
properly.
For more information,
Using Insect Repellants Safely - CDC
(exit DHS)
Information for health professionals
This is a Wisconsin Disease Surveillance Category II disease:
Report to
the patient's local public health department electronically, through the Wisconsin
Electronic Disease Surveillance System
(WEDSS), by mail or fax using an Acute and Communicable Disease Case
Report F44151 (PDF,
167 KB) or by other means within 72 hours upon recognition of a
case. DHS
Communicable Disease Reporting
Wisconsin case reporting and public health follow-up
guidelines
Arboviral
diseases EpiNet (PDF, 52 KB)
Arbovirus
case report form (PDF, 46 KB)
2013 Arbovirus management protocol (PDF, 372 KB)
Laboratory guidance
Training and
additional resources
Contacts
Wisconsin
Local Health Departments - Regional offices - Tribal agencies
Diep Hoang Johnson
Vectorborne Disease Epidemiologist
Wisconsin Division of Public Health
Bureau of Communicable Diseases and Emergency Response
(Phone 608-267-0249) (Fax 608-261-4976)
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Last Revised:
July 09, 2012 |
