United States: In the latest news from Pennsylvania, the state’s Department of Environmental Protection reported of presence of a mosquito-borne virus, that causes encephalitis or meningitis has been found in the New Florence area of Westmoreland County.
As per the official report, the tests are planned to be performed this month, in order to find out the gravity of persisting situation in Armstrong County.
More about Jamestown Canyon Virus (JCV)
The virus which was first reported in 1961, as the health officials describe JCV as a mosquito-borne orthobunyavirus, first identified in Jamestown Canyon, Colorado.
As per DEP Press Secretary Neil Shader, “this discovery appears to be an isolated incident that does not pose an elevated risk to people,” as indianagazette.com reported.
As per the reports, Crawford and Luzerne counties also experienced JCV incidents in 2024.
The DEP press secretary further mentioned, “The mosquito sample was taken from an isolated habitat near a blocked culvert and woodland pools producing mosquitoes.”
“The blocked culvert and woodland pools were treated with larval mosquito control products and stakeholders are being engaged to address the blocked culvert,” he continued.
What more are the experts stating?
As per a fact sheet from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, JCV is widely spread across North America, with the transmission done by a large number variety of mosquito vectors, which depends upon the geographic location and time of year.
The official report states that there were a total of 281 cases related to JVC infections found between 2011 and 2022, identified in 23 states across different regions of the country.
According to the DEP press secretary, “The first round of Jamestown Canyon Virus sampling and testing in Armstrong County is scheduled to begin July 8,” indianagazette.com reported.
Infection severity of the JCV
Furthermore, as the mosquito control products are being used in the New
Florence, Shader mentioned these actions should limit the spread of infected mosquitoes.”
The health department states that various people who get infected with JCV do not appear to have any symptoms.
According to the health department, “JCV may present as a non-specific febrile illness; initial symptoms could include fever, fatigue or headache,” as indianagazette.com reported.
“For people with symptoms, the time from mosquito bite to feeling sick (incubation period) ranges from a few days to two weeks. Some people reported respiratory symptoms such as cough, sore throat, or runny nose,” it added.
In severe cases, symptoms involve encephalitis or meningitis, which gets along with stiffness in the neck, dizziness, lack of coordination and balance, and seizures.
As reports mention, the transmission of the virus is done through a bite of an infected mosquito.
What more are the experts stating?
According to the health department fact sheet, “Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on deer or other animals that have the virus in their blood,” and “Infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to people and other animals by biting them. People do not develop high enough levels of the virus in their blood to infect mosquitoes and further spread the disease.”