​Infectious Diseases and Microbiology - Eastern Equine Encephalitis ( Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus)

​Infectious Diseases and Microbiology - Eastern Equine Encephalitis ( Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus) 
The virus that causes eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) belongs to the togavirus family and is an alphavirus. The WEE and VEE viruses are close relatives of one another and both cause equine encephalitis. The arbovirus family includes alphaviruses, which are spread through bites from infected mosquitoes. Wild birds (EEE and WEE) and small animals (VEE) are natural hosts for alphaviruses, where they are maintained and amplified. The majority of EEEs live in the East Coast, while the majority of WEEs live in the West Coast. The Americas are home to VEE.

Fevers, headaches, and myalgia are symptoms of encephalitis caused by EEE and WEE viruses. In severe cases, the symptoms can worsen and lead to vertigo, vomiting, confusion, convulsions, coma, and eventually death. Secondary bacterial infections can exacerbate encephalitis and pneumonitis caused by VEE viruses. In terms of clinical severity, EEE is worse than WEE. There is a 35% mortality rate from EEE, and 35% of survivors experience neurologic impairments.
Of those with less severe neurological impairments, 1% die from VEE and 4% from WEE.

The bite of an infected mosquito is what starts the infection process. The choroid plexus and capillary endothelial cells are the entry points for viruses into the central nervous system (CNS) during viremia. Protecting against alphavirus infections is the function of serum IgG.

Serological testing can detect EEE, WEE, and VEE infections by measuring an increase in the titer of antibodies specific to the virus.
Assessment, Care, and Management As of yet, neither vaccines nor treatments exist to protect humans from contracting EEE, WEE, or VEE. Protecting horses is possible with the help of a killed vaccine. Important preventive strategies include controlling mosquito vectors and using insect repellants containing DEET.