Mosquito-Borne Diseases
In an effort to protect public health, the City of Virginia Beach tracks adult mosquito populations and tests mosquitoes for the presence of mosquito-borne disease.
The most common mosquito-borne diseases found in Virginia include West Nile Virus (WNV), Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), La Crosse Encephalitis, and Saint Louis Encephalitis (SLE).
Disease information on this page comes from the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO).
West Nile Virus is the most commonly mosquito-borne disease transmitted to humans by mosquitoes in the continental United States. While there are no vaccines or medications to prevent or treat West Nile Virus, few people infected feel sick.
Approximately 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms and 1 in 150 infected people develop serious, sometimes fatal, illness. Reduce your risk of being infected by using insect repellent and wearing protective clothing to prevent mosquito bites.
Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) is a rare illness in humans, and only a few cases are reported in the United States each year – mostly in Atlantic and Gulf Coast states. It is caused by an infected mosquito biting a human and transmitting the Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus (EEEV).
Most people that have been infected with EEEV have no apparent illness. Severe cases of EEE (involving encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain) begin with the sudden onset of headache, high fever, chills, and vomiting before progressing into disorientation, seizures, or coma.
EEE is one of the most severe mosquito-transmitted diseases in the United States with an approximate 33% mortality rate and significant brain damage in most survivors. There is no specific treatment for EEE; care is based on symptoms.
Reduce your risk of being infected with EEEV by using insect repellent, wearing protective clothing, and staying indoors while mosquitoes are most active. If you think you or a family member may have EEE, it is important to consult your healthcare provider for proper diagnosis.
Zika is a viral disease spread to people mainly via bites of infected mosquitoes, however, the virus lives in bodily fluids and sexual transmission has been documented.
Mosquitoes become infected by feeding on infected people and is primarily transmitted by two types of mosquitos: the Aedes Aegypti (Yellow Fever Mosquito) and Aedes Albopictus (Asian Tiger Mosquito).
Both types of mosquitoes have been found in Virginia Beach, but the Asian Tiger Mosquito is more common. There is no specific treatment or vaccine currently available for the virus. The best defense against mosquitos is to prevent mosquitos from breeding.
- Malaria – Worldwide, the deadliest mosquito-borne disease characterized by chills and fever.
- Chikungunya (CHIK) – Common symptoms include fever, joint pain, muscle pain and headache. About 80% of those infected have no symptoms.
- Dengue Fever – Shares the same symptoms as the Zika and West Nile Viruses.
- Saint Louis Encephalitis (SLE) – Shares the same symptoms as the West Nile Virus.
- Mosquitos cannot transfer COVID-19 from person-to-person.