FRANKLIN COUNTY, Wash. – According to a press release from the Benton-Franklin Health District, a case of St. Louis Encephalitis (SLE) has been confirmed in Franklin County.
SLE is a disease that is transmitted through infected mosquitoes like the West Nile virus. Cases of SLE are very rare in Washington, however cases are occasionally found after travel.
The last reported travel-acquired case of SLE was in 2009. Before that, SLE was found in chickens being maintained by the Benton County Mosquito Control District for the West Nile virus.
BFHD says the risk to the public is currently low due to colder temperatures reducing mosquito activity.
Most people infected by SLE do not show symptoms, however those who do become ill may experience fever, headaches, nausea, vomiting and tiredness.
Rare cases of SLE may involve encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord). The risk of severe disease is higher for people over 60.
“In the future, we might see more cases of mosquito-borne diseases in different places due to climate change,” said BFHD’s Senior Manager of Surveillance & Investigation Erin Hockaday. “Diseases carried by insects, like mosquitos, can become more common and spread to new areas as the climate gets warmer.”
