SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Salt Lake County health officials detected a rare virus within the county mosquitos for the first time.
The St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) has symptoms and transmits similarly to West Nile virus, according to the Salt Lake County Health Department officials, but is less common in the United States.
Fortunately, very few people who have been infected have died from the virus. Since record-keeping of the mosquito-borne virus began in 2003, the CDC recorded a total of 307 cases. Only 20 patients developed a fatal neuroinvasive disease from the virus.
Most people who contract SLEV may not even show symptoms, according to the Salt Lake County Health Department. Those who do may experience fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. Extreme symptoms include high fever, neck stiffness, tremors, disorientation, paralysis. In rare cases, the virus can lead to long-term disability or death.
“Now that we’ve confirmed St. Louis encephalitis virus is in our local mosquito population, Salt Lake County health care providers should consider it in the differential diagnosis for patients presenting with compatible symptoms,” said Mary Hill, Salt Lake County Health Department epidemiology bureau manager.
While this is the first time SLEV has been found in Salt Lake County mosquitos, the virus was detected in the Beehive State before.
In 2022 and 2023, the virus was found in southwestern Utah mosquitos. Health officials found the virus in mosquitos in Millard County in 2024, and, in 2005, the virus was detected in birds in Utah County.
One Salt Lake County resident was infected with SLEV in 2016, but health officials said the source of the infection was never determined.
There have been no reported fatalities related to SLEV in Utah.
Salt Lake County health officials said there are no vaccines to prevent or medicines to treat St. Louis encephalitis. Utahns can reduce the risk of being infected by preventing mosquito bites.
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