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Arboviral Disease in
Washington State
For current information on WNV in Washington State, please see the
DOH
West Nile Virus hompage. Arboviral (Arthropod- borne viral) Diseases are
notifiable to local and state public health agencies in
Washington. These diseases are caused by a variety of
viruses that are transmitted by arthropods (e.g.
mosquitoes, sandflies, ticks). Arboviral
diseases include West Nile virus, Eastern and Western Equine
encephalitis, dengue, St. Louis encephalitis, La Crosse
encephalitis, Japanese encephalitis, Powassan, yellow fever,
and other less common infections.
Each year, 0 to 8 cases of travel associated dengue fever
are reported in Washington. In 2004, one case of Japanese
encephalitis was reported in a person who traveled to
Thailand. In 2006, one case of Chikungunya fever was
reported in a patient who traveled to Sri Lanka.
The last reported human infection
with an arboviral disease (excluding West Nile virus) that
was acquired in Washington State was western equine
encephalitis in 1988. St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) has also
occurred in Washington State, primarily in the central
valleys, east of the Cascades. SLE antibodies were detected
in sentinel chickens in Benton county in 2005 (Source: DOH
Zoonotic Disease Program).
Purpose of Reporting and
Surveillance
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To distinguish arboviral
infections acquired locally from those related to travel
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To better understand the
epidemiology of these infections in Washington State in
order to target education and control measures
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To identify emerging arboviral
infections in Washington
Legal Reporting
Requirements
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Health care providers:
notifiable to local health jurisdiction within 3 work
days
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Hospitals: notifiable to local
health jurisdiction within 3 work days
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Laboratories: isolation of an
arbovirus, or detection of viral antigen, antibody or
nucleic acid notifiable to local health jurisdiction of
the patient’s residence within 2 work days
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Local health jurisdictions:
notifiable to Washington State Department of Health (DOH)
Communicable Disease Epidemiology Section (CDES) within
7 days of case investigation completion or summary
information required within 21 days
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Veterinarians: notifiable to the
local health jurisdiction or to Washington State
Department of Agriculture
Last
update
July 2008 |
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