Arboviruses are a leading cause of viral encephalitis throughout the world. Recent outbreaks of St. Louis encephalitis and epizootics of eastern equine encephalitis and western equine encephalitis in the United States have demonstrated that arboviral encephalitides continue to be a domestic public health problem. La Crosse virus continues to be a major cause of endemic arboviral encephalitis in the eastern part of the United States. In South and Central America, Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus is an important cause of endemic and enzootic infection in humans and horses. In Asia, Japanese encephalitis virus causes an estimated 50,000 cases per year of viral encephalitis.

The diminishing worldwide number of research programs on arboviral diseases has increased CDC's importance as a source of expertise on all aspects of arbovirology. DVBID emphasizes more effective surveillance, prevention, and control programs for arboviruses across the globe. Advances in understanding the molecular structure and immunochemistry of arboviruses at DVBID have resulted in development of new, more rapid, sensitive, and specific diagnostic tests, and the promise of genetically engineered vaccines.

Below are images of mosquito vectors responsible for transmitting arboviral encephalitides:

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This page last reviewed May 14, 2008

Content source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)
Division of Vector-Borne Diseases (DVBD)
P.O. Box 2087
Fort Collins, Colorado 80522

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