La Crosse Encephalitis

Overview

How can I get sick?  

• Being bit by an infected* mosquito. 

Symptoms in humans:  

• Fever (when your body gets a little hotter than normal)  

• Headache  
• Feeling like you need to throw up.  
• Throwing up  
• Tiredness  
• Reduced activity and alertness  
• Can’t see well.  
• Numbness (unable to feel)  
• Paralysis (loss of movement in a part of the body)  

What can I do to stay healthy?  

 Protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites

• Use insect repellents while hiking, camping, hunting, or being outside. Ask an adult to help you with insect repellent*.   

• Wear long pants, long sleeves, and long socks when outside.    
• Treat your clothes, gear (boots, tents, backpacks or camping gear), or any outdoor equipment with insect repellent*.   
• Use screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitos outside.   
• Remove anything that will bring mosquitoes into your home. For example, emptying standing water from pots, buckets, barrels, and other containers.   

What to do when traveling overseas

• Use insect repellents* while hiking, camping, hunting, or being outside. Ask an adult to help you with insect repellent*.   
• Wear long pants, long sleeves, and long socks when outside.    
• Treat your clothes, gear (boots, tents, backpacks or camping gear), or any outdoor equipment with insect repellent*.   
• Choose a hotel or place to stay that has air conditioning or windows and doors with screens to keep mosquitos outside.   
• Use mosquito nets when sleeping outside or if you are staying in a room with no screens on windows or doors.   

*Definitions:

• Infected: When germs get inside of a body, animal, or an organism.  
• Insect repellent: Product applied to skin, clothing or surfaces to keep insects away.