About La Crosse Encephalitis

On this page:
Fact Sheet
Transmission
Prevention
Signs and symptoms
More from other websites

Fact Sheet

• La Crosse Encephalitis Fact Sheet (PDF)
  Answers to frequently asked questions about La Crosse encephalitis.
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Transmission

• La Crosse encephalitis is one of several mosquitoborne diseases that have been seen in Minnesota.
  

Prevention

• The best way to prevent La Crosse encephalitis is to remove water-holding containers from your property. It is easier to do this in the spring before growing vegetation obscures the containers.
  
  
• Bird baths should have their water changed every week to prevent mosquito breeding, and gutters should be checked to make sure they are not plugged.
  
  
• Water-holding tree holes should be filled with dirt, sand, or a pliable insulation cement to prevent further mosquito breeding.
  
  
• If children play in or near wooded areas during the day, they should:
  • wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants (light-colored clothing works best)
  • use repellents containing DEET (less than 30% DEET is sufficient for adults, and less than 10% DEET is adequate for children) according to label directions
    
    
• Preventing Mosquitoborne Diseases
  Learn how to minimize your risk to La Crosse encephalitis and other diseases transmitted by mosquitoes.
  

Signs and symptoms

• Most people infected with this virus will have either no symptoms or a mild flu-like illness.
  
  
• A small percentage of people (especially children) may develop encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
  
  
• Most of the severe cases start with headache, fever, nausea, and lethargy. The illness may rapidly progress into disorientation, seizures, and coma.
  
  
• There is no treatment for the illness other than supportive care until the illness is over.
  

More from other websites

• CDC: La Crosse Encephalitis
  CDC website.