Updated
Updated · wnegradio.com · Aug 1
South Carolina Confirms 1 La Crosse Encephalitis Case in Oconee County
Updated
Updated · wnegradio.com · Aug 1

South Carolina Confirms 1 La Crosse Encephalitis Case in Oconee County

3 articles · Updated · wnegradio.com · Aug 1

Summary

  • South Carolina health officials confirmed a single La Crosse encephalitis case in a Westminster-area resident of Oconee County, saying there is no sign of wider county transmission.
  • La Crosse encephalitis is a rare but serious mosquito-borne viral illness, usually spread by treehole mosquitoes and not from person to person; cases are reported most often in children under 16.
  • Oconee County Emergency Management and the state health department are monitoring the case while urging residents to remove standing water, use DEET or picaridin repellent, wear long sleeves and repair screens.
  • The case adds to the Upstate's known exposure to the disease and keeps attention on mosquito control around homes and wooded areas where treehole mosquitoes are active.

Insights

Why did one rare mosquito-borne case in Westminster trigger spraying, and how worried should families near Old Seneca Road be?
What makes La Crosse encephalitis especially concerning for children, even when officials say there is no widespread transmission?
Could standing water and wooded yards around Westminster be creating the perfect conditions for treehole mosquitoes carrying this virus?