Definition:
Western equine encephalitis or WEE is a viral disease which is caused by western equine encephalitis virus which is an arbovirus that is transmitted by mosquitoes of the genre Culex and Culiseta (Ryan KJ; Ray CG (editors) (2004). Sherris Medical Microbiology, 4th ed., McGraw Hill).
Diagnosis:
Confirmation of the Western equine encephalitis or WEE is through blood tests and/or spinal fluid tests.
Treatment:
At present there is no vaccine nor any therapeutic drug s that is used to treat the infection. Antibiotics are said to be not effective against the virus. Treatment therefore are for the symptoms as they manifest.
Symptoms and Signs:
Symptoms may vary from one person to another. A person affect by the infection may suffer mild illness accompanied with headache and sometimes fever. For people affected with severe cases of the infection a sudden high fever, headache, drowsiness, nausea and vomiting and weakness are observed.
Causes:
It is caused by the western equine encephalitis virus which is an arthropod-borne virus or Arbovirus for brevity.
