What are arboviral diseases?

ARBOVIRAL DISEASES

Arboviral diseases are spread by the bite of an infected arthropod, such as a mosquito or tick. 

Caused by an arbovirus, symptoms are usually mild, occur 3-15 days after exposure, and last 3 or 4 days. They include headache, fever, fatigue, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes. Severe infections are marked by a rapid progression, headache, high fever, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, paralysis, coma or death. Infections occur most often in the warmer months because that's when mosquitos and ticks are active.

Most arboviral infections are spread by infected mosquitos, although only a few types of mosquitoes have the capability to transfer the disease and only a fraction of those will be carrying the virus. Person-to-person transmission of the arbovirus is rare. It can occur through blood transfusions or organ transplantation if the virus is present in the donor's blood or organs. Mother-to-child transmission is also rare, but can occur in infected pregnant or breastfeeding women. Infected needle exposure can also transmit the disease.

The young and the old seem to be most susceptible to these diseases, although people across all age spectrums have contracted them.

Arboviral diseases present in the United States include:

• West Nile virus
• California serogroup viruses
• Eastern equine encephalitis virus
• Western equine encephalitis virus
• St. Louis encephalitis virus

Ways to prevent arboviral infections:

• Use insect repellents outdoors in mosquito-heavy areas 
• NOTE: these do NOT have to be heavy-chemical repellents. Insect repellents with non-natural chemicals are not only harmful to the environment, but to your own health. Instead, try these:
• cinnamon oil (mosquitoes)
• lemon eucalyptus or regular eucalyptus oil (mosquitoes, ticks, and lice)
• citronella oil (mosquitoes and biting flies)
• castor oil (mosquitoes)
• orange oil (fleas)
• rose geranium (ticks and lice)
• Put screens over your windows and doors
• Remove containers that hold water and provide a breeding site for mosquitoes (e.g.) old tires

http://chemistry.about.com/od/healthbeautyprojects/a/naturalinsectrepellent.htm

http://www.vdh.state.va.us/epidemiology/dee/Vectorborne/arboviralInfections.htm

http://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/arboviral/fact_sheet.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/arbor/arbdet.htm

http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/communicable/arboviraldiseases/Index.htm