NEWS – International Health Regulations National Focal Point (IHR NFP) in Argentina alerted the World Health Organization of a human case of Western Equine Encephalitis Virus (WEEV) infection

WESTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS VIRUS (WEEV)

• Mosquito-borne virus that belongs to the family Togaviridae and the genus Alphavirus
• Primarily transmitted to humans and horses through the bites of infected mosquitoes, especially those belonging to the Culex species
• Known to cause encephalitis, which is inflammation of the brain, and it is one of several viruses associated with mosquito-borne encephalitis
• Birds are the natural hosts
• Primarily found in the western parts of North America, including the western United States and Canada
• Result in a spectrum of symptoms ranging from mild febrile illness to severe neurological complications such as encephalitis