Knoxville, Tennessee – In a Tennessee county, six children were hospitalized after contracting a mosquito-borne ailment, according to officials.
Kelsey Wilson of the Knox County Health Department verified that six cases of La Crosse virus had been detected in the last nine weeks, with all of the youngsters hospitalized.
All current cases involve children under the age of 12, and this is the greatest number of cases documented in Knox County since 2020.
La Crosse virus is a mosquito-borne infection transmitted through the bite of an Aedes mosquito, which attacks mostly during dawn and dusk in wooded regions.
According to the health authorities, most people do not develop symptoms from the virus. However, if symptoms appear, they may include fever, headache, nausea, or vomiting.
Rarely, do people acquire serious diseases, including brain inflammation known as encephalitis. According to the department, severe sickness most commonly affects children under the age of sixteen.
Wilson notes that the most severe cases necessitate hospitalization, but individuals affected will recover with supportive care. She also stated that up to 15% of cases may have significant neurologic consequences.
With mosquito season still in effect, Wilson believes that preventing or reducing mosquito bites is the best approach to avoid a La Crosse illness.
The department stated that citizens should also:
- Apply bug repellents.
- Treat garments with repellents.
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants when working in grassy areas, and cover strollers/baby carriers with mosquito netting.
- Reduce standing water in your yard to control the mosquito population.
- Turn over things that hold water every week, such as swings, buckets, toys, and flowerpot saucers.