Diseases

West Nile Virus (WNV) is a Mosquito-borne virus that can cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and/or meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the  brain and spinal cord). WNV primarily infects and multiplies in birds, which serve as reservoirs for the virus.

Zika Virus: is a member of the flaviviridae family and is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. It's related to other pathogenic vector borne flaviviruses including dengue,West-Nile and Japanese encephlitis viruses but produces a comparatively mild disease in humans.

The incubation period for Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) disease (the time from infected mosquito bite to onset of illness) ranges from 4 to 10 days. EEEV infection can result in one of two types of illness, systemic or encephalitic (involving swelling of the brain, referred to below as EEE). The type of illness will depend on the age of the person and other host factors. It is possible that some people who become infected with EEEV may be asymptomatic (will not develop any symptoms).

Malaria: An infectious disease caused by protozoan parasites from the plasmodium family that can be transmitted by the bite of the Anopheles mosquito or by a contaminated needle or transfusion. Falciparum malaria is the most deadly type.

 Chikungunya is a rae viral infection trasmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. It is characterized by rash, fever, and severe joint pain (arthralgias) that usually lasts for three to seven days. 

 Encephaalitis: An irritation and swelling (inflammation) of the brain. It often coexists with inflammation of the covering of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis) and most cases are caused by viral infection. Encephalitis ranges in severity from mild to severe. It may result in permanent neurological damage and death. 

 Dirofilaria immitis, the heartworm or dog heartworm, is a parasitic roundworm that is spread from host to host through the bit of mosquitoes. The hearworm is a type of filarial worm, a small thread-like-worm, that causes filariasis. The difinitive host is the dog, but it can also infect cats, wolves, coyotes, foxes, and other animals and even, under very rare circumstances, humans. The parasite is commonly called "heartworm" ; however, adults often reside in the pulmonary arterial system, as well as the heart, and a major effect on the health of the animal is a manifestation of damage to the lung vessels tissues. Occasionally, adult heartworms migrate to the heart and even the great veins in heavy infections. Heartworm infections may result in serious disease for the host, with death typically as the result of congestive heart failure. 

La Crosse virus (LACV) disease (the time from infected mosquito bite to onset of illness) ranges from 5 to 15 days. LACV disease is usually characterized by fever (usually lasting 2-3 days), headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue (tiredness), and lethargy (reduced activity or alertness). Severe neuroinvasive disease (disease affecting the nervous system) occurs most frequently in children under the age of 16.

Although seizures during the acute illness are common, fatal cases are rare (<1%) and most patients seem to recover completely. Neurologic sequelae (conditions resulting from the initial disease) of varying duration have been reported in some cases. These may include recurrent seizures, hemiparesis (partial paralysis of one side of the body), and cognitive and neurobehavioral abnormalities.

 Less than 1% of St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) infections are clinically apparent and the vast majority of infections remain undiagnosed. The incubation period for SLEV disease (the time from infected mosquito bite to onset of illness) ranges from 5 to 15 days. Onset of illness is usually abrupt, with fever, headache, dizziness, nausea, and malaise. Signs and symptoms intensify over a period of several days to a week. Some patients spontaneously recover after this period; others develop signs of central nervous system infections, including stiff neck, confusion, disorientation, dizziness, tremors and unsteadiness. Coma can develop in severe cases. The disease is generally milder in children than in older adults. About 40% of children and young adults with SLEV disease develop only fever and headache or aseptic meningitis; almost 90% of elderly persons with SLEV disease develop encephalitis. The overall case-fatality ratio is 5 to 15%. The risk of fatal disease also increases with age.