Jamestown Canyon Virus in the USA (Maine and New Hampshire)

28 Aug 2017

In recent weeks there have been 3 cases of Jamestown Canyon virus in Maine. Another case was identified in the neighbouring state of New Hampshire in early August 2017.

Jamestown Canyon virus is a mosquito-borne virus found in deer and is rarely seen in humans. However, it can produce serious illness with central nervous system involvment. There is no vaccine and no specific treatment.

Advice to Travellers

Avoidance of mosquito bites should always be considered as the first line of defence against mosquito-borne infection, especially malaria, dengue fever, chikungunya, zika and yellow fever.

Different species of mosquito bite at different times of day, and transmit different infection so prevention measures are advisable at all times.

Examples:

• Anopheles mosquitoes which spread malaria tend to bite between dusk until dawn.
• Peak biting activity occurs around midnight in those mosquitoes that spread malaria in Africa. In South America and South East Asia the mosquitoes tend to bite in the evening.
• Aedes mosquitoes that transmit dengue, chikungunya, zika and yellow fever tend to bite between dawn and dusk.

For further advice see Mosquito Bite Avoidance.