KS - Stopping a Deadly Virus at the Border

Stopping a Deadly Virus at the Border

Two researchers working with Culex quinquefaciatus mosquitos — Researchers at the Foreign Arthropod-Borne Animal Diseases Research Unit working with Culex quinquefaciatus mosquitos, a Japanese encephalitis virus vector. (Lee Cohnstaedt, D5079-1)

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is an endemic disease in Asia. It is carried by mosquitoes and belongs to the same genus as Dengue, Zika virus, yellow fever, and West Nile virus. The mortality rate of symptomatic cases is high (20-30%), and up to half the survivors experience significant neurological symptoms.

Although JEV has currently not reached the United States, previous studies determined that this country is at high-risk for its introduction. To keep JEV from entering our country, ARS researchers at the Foreign Arthropod-Borne Research Disease Unit in Manhattan, KS, collaborated with Kansas State University researchers to study areas of vulnerability, including increases in wild animal populations that can transmit the disease, illegal animal importation and movement, the reduction in mosquito control in regions with highest risk, and changing patterns of viral strains. Identifying these gaps and more closely monitoring animal and mosquito incursion of JEV can reduce the potential consequences of the virus entering the United States.

Related Information

Research Project: Japanese Encephalitis Virus Prevention and Mitigation Strategies

Explore Other Discoveries

Researcher evaluating mountain big sagebrush.

Targeting Taste Buds, Targeting Grazing

Scientists are taking grazing to a new level by developing sheep that prefer or tolerate the bitter taste of plants.

Determining Risk of Avian Influenza

ARS researchers studied the transmission dynamics of avian influenza virus in disease outbreaks of both commercial and backyard flocks.

Protecting American Cattle From Ticks

ARS scientists collaborated to sequence and assemble the genomes of the ticks that cause cattle fever and anaplasmosis.

Liver and Onions - Hold the Abscess

Changes in cattle rumen associated with liver abscesses remain well after the early development of rumen acidosis caused by high corn diets.

New Ways to Sterilize Mosquitoes

ARS researchers collaborated with scientists from the University of Florida to develop a simpler method to sterilize mosquitoes.

Better Water, Happier Fish

Scientists found that fish raised in reused water faced significantly higher mortality rates that those grown in tanks supplied with fresh spring water.

Marty Riche feeding juvenile Florida pompano.

Leftovers Make Good Fish Food

Researchers determined that clam byproducts and hemp fibers meet the nutritional needs of farmed fish Florida pompano.

Topic

Animal Production & Protection