Ohio leads US in mosquito-spread virus affecting children

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio is leading the nation this year in the number of La Crosse virus cases, a mosquito-borne illness that most commonly affects children under the age of 16. 

"We're seeing a lot of cases in Ohio this year," Nationwide Children's Infectious Disease Physician Dr. Chris Ouellette said. "This has been a busier year than what we've seen in other years, but this is not something that I would consider as out of the normal from what we've seen if you go back long enough in time."

According to the Ohio Department of Health, there are currently 40 reported human cases in Ohio this year. That's double the average number of cases typically reported in the state each year.

"It happens that the virus and the type of mosquito that transmits it the best are really kind of focused around here in central to southeast Ohio, but also into the Appalachians," Ouellette said. 

Ouellette said they've seen over 20 cases at Nationwide Children's over the past year.

"That's not an unexpectedly low number or unexpectedly necessarily high number," Ouellette said. "I think it kind of fits within the range of cases that we have seen." 

The virus is carried by a specific type of mosquito that thrives in wooded areas and tends to bite during the day. Since it can't be spread from person to person, the best way to prevent getting sick is to prevent mosquito bites.

"The best thing, number one, is using mosquito repellent, containing formulas on skin that's exposed to help try to repel those insect bites," Ouellette said. "And then, of course, just good coverage in terms of either wearing long clothing to cover your skin so you have less area of your skin to bite." 

Most people infected with the virus don't show any symptoms, but for those who do, signs usually appear between five to 15 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. 

"This virus likes to cause inflammation of the brain and also inflammation of the layers that surround the brain," Ouellette said. "So, the majority of cases that we do see when they do present, they do have fevers, headache, oftentimes nausea."

While La Crosse virus can sound scary, Ouellette said most children fully recover without any long-term lasting physical effects. There is currently no vaccine or direct treatment for the virus which is why doctors say prevention is key.