Jamestown Canyon Virus mosquito

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Photo credit: US CDC

About Jamestown Canyon Virus

Jamestown Canyon Virus (JCV) is a virus spread by mosquitoes that can cause disease in humans. Human cases are rare in the United States. JCV can also infect white-tail deer.

JCV is generally reported in the northern United States, but can be found as far south as Georgia. It can be found in mosquitoes in Maine.

JCV spreads through the bite of an infected mosquito. Anyone can get JCV, but people who spend time outdoors are at the highest risk.

Symptoms

Many people infected with JCV have no obvious symptoms. In people who do develop illness, symptoms occur a few days to 2 weeks after an infected mosquito bite. Symptoms can range from mild flu-like symptoms to severe symptoms. Some people experience severe illness. Deaths associated with JCV infection are rare.

Common symptoms include:

  • Fever and chills

    Fever and chills

  • Feeling very tired

    Feeling very tired

  • Headache

    Headache

Signs of severe disease include:

  • Inflammation of the brain or lining of the spinal cord

    Inflammation of the brain or lining of the spinal cord

  • Confusion

    Confusion

  • Neck Stiffness

    Neck stiffness

  • Difficulty speaking

    Difficulty speaking

 

Prevention

There is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat JCV infection.

Prevent Mosquito Bites

The best way to prevent mosquito-borne diseases is to prevent mosquito bites in the first place. Take these simple steps every day to prevent mosquito bites:

  • long pants

    Wear long-sleeved clothing and pants.

  • bug spray

    Use an EPA-approved bug spray.

  • trail

    Avoid outdoor activities from dusk to dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.

Protect Your Yard From Mosquitoes

You can make your yard a mosquito-safe zone:

  1. Empty sources of standing water around your home, including in man-made containers.
  2. Discard man-made containers around your yard that can hold water. If you cannot remove them, consider drilling holes in them to keep them from holding water.
  3. Put plant pots, yard toys, and other containers that hold water away or store-upside down to keep them from filling with water.
  4. Change the water at least once every week in containers that have to hold water, like birdbaths and pet water bowls. This makes sure that mosquito larvae (baby mosquitoes) cannot grow into adults.
  5. Check window and door screens for holes that mosquitoes can fly through and fix them.
mosquito property maintenance

To learn more, visit Mosquito Frequently Asked Questions. Find more information about personal protection against mosquito bites here.

Resources for Educators

Maine CDC developed vectorborne school curricula for 3rd-8th grade classrooms. The curriculum is aligned with Maine Learning Results. School nurses, teachers, and other youth leaders are encouraged to use this resource in their classrooms.

Reports and Publications

JCV Surveillance Reports

Maine CDC publishes yearly data on cases and rates of JCV in humans, animals, and mosquitoes in yearly JCV Surveillance Reports. Reports are not available for years when no human cases were reported.

Arboviral Surveillance

Mosquito, animal, and humans specimens get tested for Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus (EEE), JCV, and West Nile virus (WNV) in Maine. The results are published in Weekly Arboviral Surveillance Reports from July to September each year. This data helps Maine CDC to understand where in Maine mosquitoes might be infected with tehse diseases and guide mosquito control efforts to prevent humans and companion animals from getting sick.

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