Long Beach, California, Confirms First Human Case of St. Louis Encephalitis in Nearly Four Decades
Long Beach, California, Confirms First Human Case of St. Louis Encephalitis in Nearly Four Decades Long Beach, California, recently reported its first human case of St. Louis Encephalitis (SLE) since 1984, according to an announcement from the city's health department. While the infected person is currently recovering at home after hospitalization, the case has raised concerns about the potentially severe consequences of this mosquito-borne virus. What is St. Louis Encephalitis? St. Louis Encephalitis is a virus transmitted by certain infected mosquitoes, with the culex species being the primary carriers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains that the typical transmission cycle involves infected common birds, such as pigeons and sparrows, being bitten by mosquitoes. Subsequently, these infected mosquitoes bite humans, passing on the virus. Notably, humans are considered "dead end hosts," and the virus cannot be transmitted from person to person. Sy...