1. About the Disease:
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SLE is a mosquito transmitted virus that produces sporadic epidemics in urban areas of the USA. SLE is transmitted when an infected mosquito bites humans. It is not transmitted person-person, nor is it transmitted by pets. |
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The disease was first recognized in 1933 in St. Louis Missouri. Notable outbreaks involving thousands of cases have since been documented from Houston, Chicago, Tampa Bay, Orlando and Camden-Philadelphia. |
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The infection is transmitted by pollution tolerant Culex species with Cx. pipiens pipiens, Cx. pipiens quinquefasciatus, and Cx. nigripalpus functioning as the most important mosquito vectors. |
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The severity of SLE in humans who make contact with the virus varies according to age. Most people who are infected have no symptoms or may experience a fever and headache. The elderly are at greatest risk of showing overt symptoms and succumbing to the disease. |
2. How New Jersey is dealing with the problem.
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New Jersey State law mandates each county to provide mosquito control services to its residents. |
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NJ counties have established mosquito control programs that employ professional staff (Rutgers University certified mosquito habitat & identification specialists, NJDEP licensed pesticide applicators, etc.), to address mosquito problems as part of a year round integrated pest management program that reduces both nuisance and the threat of disease transmission. |
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In New Jersey mosquito control professionals meet regularly to report on local conditions, maintain contact with each other and various public health officials to keep abreast of and abate mosquito problems as they arise. |
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Efforts include: public education activities, larval and adult mosquito surveillance, habitat manipulation, biological control efforts, integration of bio-rational insecticides into larval control programs and spraying for adult mosquitoes when necessary. |
3. What we are doing regarding the threat of St. Louis Encephalitis in NJ:
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Collecting adult mosquitoes from urban areas of the state for virus isolation attempts. |
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Establishing sentinel flocks of chickens in urban foci around the New York metropolitan area, and in locations historically affected by SLE, in a cooperative effort. Blood samples from these birds will be taken on a weekly basis and tested for evidence of SLE antibodies. The results of these tests will be forwarded to the various county mosquito programs for appropriate preventative actions. |
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Collecting blood samples from urban bird species that function as the reservoir for this disease. (species include house sparrows & starlings). (For West Nile, a wider range of species will be examined, including crows and migrants.) |
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Mosquito control efforts are being increased in areas where the mosquito vectors are known to breed around the state. (This includes public education efforts, inspections of suitable Cx. breeding places, catch basins, retention ponds semi-permanent/polluted waters etc.) |
Return to Disease Links Page at New Jersey Mosquito Website