La Crosse disease is the nation’s second-most prevalent mosquito-borne virus. According to the CDC, West Nile virus makes up more than 90% of annual viral infections from mosquito or tick bites, with La Crosse the next-most prevalent at about 2% of mosquito or tickborne viral infections a year – or 50 to 150 cases a year. Both children and adults can be infected with La Crosse virus.
Rebecca Trout Fryxell is an entomologist at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, who studies how La Crosse disease spreads in the environment. Together with other researchers at UT and Western Carolina University, she is working to provide people and communities with effective solutions to prevent this illness. Through her research and community engagement activities, she is helping to increase awareness of what La Crosse virus is and how people catch it – and can avoid catching it. Read the full article at The Conversation.
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CONTACT:
Lindsey Owen (865-974-6375, lowen8@utk.edu)