​Infectious Diseases and Microbiology - St. Louis Encephalitis ( SLE Virus)

​Infectious Diseases and Microbiology - St. Louis Encephalitis ( SLE Virus) 
SLE virus, a member of the flavivirus family, is the cause of St. Louis encephalitis (SLE). Epidemiology: The SLE virus is spread through mosquito bites. SLE outbreaks mostly happen in late summer and early fall across the country.

The SLE virus can cause encephalitis or a nonspecific febrile illness that resembles the flu.
Higher fever, headache, nausea, malaise, myalgia, backache, stiff neck, and disorientation are signs of more serious illnesses. SLE mortality rates vary from 3% to 30%, with an elevated risk among the elderly.

The brain is the organ that the virus targets after being directly injected into the bloodstream by the infected mosquito and spreading to monocyte-macrophage lineage cells. Viral particles enter the CNS through the choroid plexus or capillary endothelial cells. Infection control depends on both cell-mediated immunity and antibodies.

The identification of virus-specific IgM in serum or CSF allows for the diagnosis of SLE virus.
 
For SLE, there isn't a particular medication or vaccination. Key preventive methods include wearing protective clothes, controlling mosquito vectors, practicing prevention, and using insect repellent with DEET.
Remarks The West Nile virus (Africa, Europe, Middle East, India, Australia, North America), the Japanese encephalitis virus (Asia), and the Murray Valley encephalitis virus (Australia) are among the group of flaviviruses to which SLE is antigenically related.