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Diseases

WHAT ARE THESE DISEASES? LET'S LEARN ABOUT THEM!

test-tubeZika, dengue, and chikungunya are viruses spread by the same types of Aedes species of mosquitoes.

All three viruses can cause similar symptoms. In order to know if you have one of these diseases, you have to go to the doctor and get a blood or urine test.


West Nile Virus and St. Louis encephalitis are viruses spread by the Culex species of mosquitos.

The majority of people with West Nile Virus and St. Louis encephalitis experience no symptoms, but both diseases can cause serious symptoms in some people. In order to know if you have one of these diseases, you have to go to the doctor and get a blood or spinal fluid test.


People can be infected with these viruses and not know it.

  • Even if a person doesn't have symptoms, the virus can still be in their blood.
  • Mosquitoes can bite someone who is infected. After the virus has developed, which can take a week or more, mosquitoes can pass the virus to someone who is healthy.

Zika

Do you have a fever, rash, joint pain, or red eyes? It could be Zika.

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WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU?

  • The illness is usually mild. The symptoms can last several days to a week.
  • People usually don't get sick enough to go to the hospital, and they rarely die of Zika.
  • Many people might not even realize they are infected with the Zika virus. Four out of five people who have Zika don't have symptoms!
  • After you are bitten by an infected mosquito, it can take up to 2 weeks for you to notice symptoms, but they usually go away after 3-7 days.

HOW SERIOUS IS ZIKA?

Zika infection can cause birth defects, even in women who do not have symptoms, and can be spread through sex. Learn more about Zika & Pregnancy.

There is no vaccine to prevent infection or specific medicine to treat Zika.

ZIKA CAN CAUSE NEUROLOGICAL PROBLEMS

Though relatively rare, Zika is also linked to Guillain-Barre syndrome, that causes weakness in arms and legs. This can be a serious condition resulting in permanent paralysis in some people. Other neurological problems are also being studied.


Dengue

Do you a have fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, rash, and pain in the eyes, joints, and muscles? It could be dengue.

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WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU?

After you are bitten by an infected mosquito, it can take up to 2 weeks for you to notice symptoms, but they usually go away in a week.

In general, younger children have milder symptoms than older children and adults.

HOW SERIOUS CAN DENGUE BE?

  • Dengue can be very severe.
  • There are four types of dengue virus.
  • People who get infected with more than one type are at risk for shock and hemorrhage.
  • In severe cases, people die.

There is no specific medicine to treat dengue.


Chikungunya

Do you have a fever with joint, muscle, eye pain...or a rash? It could be chikungunya.

person-lightning

WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU?

Chikungunya can be very painful! You can't even get out of bed to go to the bathroom because your joints and muscles hurt so much.

After you are bitten by an infected mosquito, it can take up to 3-7 days for you to notice symptoms, but they usually go away after a week. For some people the pain can last for two years.

There is no vaccine to prevent or specific medicine to treat chikungunya.


West Nile Virus

Do you a have fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash? It could be West Nile Virus.

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WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU?

Many people might not even realize they are infected with the West Nile Virus, because 8 out of 10 people infected don’t have any symptoms.

After you are bitten by an infected mosquito, it can take up to 3-12 days for you to notice symptoms. Most people recover completely, but in some people fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or months.

HOW SERIOUS CAN WEST NILE VIRUS BE?

  • West Nile Virus can be very severe.
  • About 1 in 150 people who get infected develop encephalitis or meningitis.
  • People over 60 years of age are at greatest risk.
  • In severe cases, people die.

There is no vaccine to prevent or specific medicine to treat West Nile Virus.


Saint Louis Encephalitis Virus

Do you have a fever, headache, dizziness, nausea, and malaise? It could be Saint Louis encephalitis virus.

person-fever

WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU?

After you are bitten by an infected mosquito, it can take up to 5-15 days for you to notice symptoms. Less than 1% of people infected with Saint Louis encephalitis virus have symptoms.

In some people, infection can lead to meningitis (infection of the brain or spinal cord) or encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), with symptoms including: stiff neck, confusion, disorientation, dizziness, tremors, and unsteadiness.

There is no vaccine to prevent or specific medicine to treat Saint Louis encephalitis virus.

HOW SERIOUS CAN SAINT LOUIS ENCEPHALITIS VIRUS BE?

  • Saint Louis encephalitis virus can be very severe.
  • In serious cases, people can develop encephalitis, meningitis, or coma.
  • People over 60 years of age are at greatest risk.
  • In severe cases, people die.


WHO IS AT RISK FOR THESE DISEASES?

Anyone who lives in, commutes or travels to an area where these viruses are found.



HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE ONE OF THESE DISEASES AND NOT THE FLU?

While many of the symptoms of mosquito-borne diseases are similar to the symptoms of influenza, there are some important differences. People with influenza have more respiratory symptoms, like cough, sore throat, and runny or stuffy nose. Influenza is also most common during winter months, while mosquito-borne diseases are most common during the rainy and summer seasons.


WHERE IS ZIKA?

Areas with Risk of Zika

  • Cape Verde
  • Mexico: All states in Mexico
  • Africa: Angola, Burkina-Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Gabon, Nigeria, Senegal, Uganda
  • Asia: Bangladesh, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Maldives, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
  • The Caribbean: Anguilla; Antigua and Barbuda; Aruba; The Bahamas; Barbados; Bonaire; British Virgin Islands; Cayman Islands; Cuba; Curaçao; Dominica; Dominican Republic; Grenada; Guadeloupe; Haiti; Jamaica; Martinique; Montserrat; the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a US territory; Saba; Saint Barthelemy; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Martin; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Sint Eustatius; Sint Maarten; Trinidad and Tobago; Turks and Caicos Islands; US Virgin Islands
  • Central America: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama
  • The Pacific Islands: American Samoa, Cook Islands, Easter Island, Fiji, French Polynesia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, New Caledonia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu
  • South America: Currently includes: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela

Last Updated: July 4, 2019

In the United States

CDC ArboNET Disease Maps

CDC's ArboNet site provides maps of cases of Zika, dengue, chikungunya, West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis, and other diseases in the United States.

 

Visit CDC's Traveler's Health website for health information about your destination. CDC Website

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