Maine CDC Health Advisory

July 20, 2020

Human Arbovirus Update for Healthcare Providers in Maine

The purpose of this health advisory is to alert clinicians to the potential for human arboviral disease activity in Maine as summer progresses and to consider testing for arboviral disease in patients presenting with unexplained encephalitis, meningitis or high fever (100.4F or 38C) during the summer and fall when mosquitoes are most active.
Arboviral diseases, including Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV), and West Nile virus (WNV), are serious infections that are transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. Maine reported no cases of locally acquired mosquito-borne infection in residents in 2019. Additionally, Powassan virus is an arboviral disease transmitted by the bite of an infected tick. Maine identified two cases of Powassan virus disease in residents during 2019. Although rare, these diseases have potentially severe and even fatal consequences for those who contract them.

Advisory (PDF)