PNW Encephalitis Virus Research
Donation protected
Everyone by now has heard of Zika...but what about mosquito-caused viruses in the US? What about in the Pacific NW? Jamestown Canyon Virus is considered endemic in the US by the CDC, but health care providers don't know to test for it.
I became ill with nausea, vomiting, weight loss and fever for 3 weeks, followed by slow development of tingling/pins and needles to my foot, then leg, then arm, trunk, neck and finally my face. I was diagnosed with "post viral encephalitis" without a known cause. I developed tremors, an off-balance gait, "contractures of Gower" in my extremities causing me to wobble and throw glasses without control and finally abnormal speech. I did some research and asked to be tested for arboviruses. Jamestown Canyon was positive. I am an outdoor enthusiast, nurse practitioner and mother of a three year old son, 17 month old daughter, 14 yo step son and 16 year old step daughter. I racked up countless dollars toward medical (insurance has been charged over $91K so far) and will be spending much more. That sounds bad, but I am one of the lucky ones! I have slowly improved but more than 50% of those affected have permanent disabilities.
I am not asking for a personal donation. If we knew more about the true incidence of JCV and other encephalitis viruses, we could establish what treatments are effective, develop a vaccine and potentially save people these life changing and expensive illnesses.
With your help, I would like to contribute to research with the following goals:
1. Contact local neurologists, ED physicians, primary care providers with up to date recommendations on when and who to test for local arboviruses
2. Help identify local incidence in the PNW of JCV through testing samples of people, mosquitos and animals known to harbor the virus
UPDATE: Local mosquito testing is done through the local and state health departments. It is directly dependent on positive tests of people, making number 1 (health provider knowledge and practice of testing when appropriate) extremely important.
3. Contribute to further knowledge of arbovirus effects, potential treatments and a potential vaccine.
Awareness is key, please help!
While swatting at that mosquito, what can you do to prevent contracting a mosquito virus?
1. Donate for research!
2. Wear long clothing, especially during peak hours of mosquito activity (dusk and dawn)
3. Wear mosquito repellant (FYI new concerns with naled and delayed development)
4. Mosquito control (dump water containers, recycle old tires, fill tree holes with dirt or sand)
Some info about JCV:
https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/cdcs/documents/jamestown-canyon-virus.pdf
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6324a1.htm
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5087598/#!po=32.6923
I became ill with nausea, vomiting, weight loss and fever for 3 weeks, followed by slow development of tingling/pins and needles to my foot, then leg, then arm, trunk, neck and finally my face. I was diagnosed with "post viral encephalitis" without a known cause. I developed tremors, an off-balance gait, "contractures of Gower" in my extremities causing me to wobble and throw glasses without control and finally abnormal speech. I did some research and asked to be tested for arboviruses. Jamestown Canyon was positive. I am an outdoor enthusiast, nurse practitioner and mother of a three year old son, 17 month old daughter, 14 yo step son and 16 year old step daughter. I racked up countless dollars toward medical (insurance has been charged over $91K so far) and will be spending much more. That sounds bad, but I am one of the lucky ones! I have slowly improved but more than 50% of those affected have permanent disabilities.
I am not asking for a personal donation. If we knew more about the true incidence of JCV and other encephalitis viruses, we could establish what treatments are effective, develop a vaccine and potentially save people these life changing and expensive illnesses.
With your help, I would like to contribute to research with the following goals:
1. Contact local neurologists, ED physicians, primary care providers with up to date recommendations on when and who to test for local arboviruses
2. Help identify local incidence in the PNW of JCV through testing samples of people, mosquitos and animals known to harbor the virus
UPDATE: Local mosquito testing is done through the local and state health departments. It is directly dependent on positive tests of people, making number 1 (health provider knowledge and practice of testing when appropriate) extremely important.
3. Contribute to further knowledge of arbovirus effects, potential treatments and a potential vaccine.
Awareness is key, please help!
While swatting at that mosquito, what can you do to prevent contracting a mosquito virus?
1. Donate for research!
2. Wear long clothing, especially during peak hours of mosquito activity (dusk and dawn)
3. Wear mosquito repellant (FYI new concerns with naled and delayed development)
4. Mosquito control (dump water containers, recycle old tires, fill tree holes with dirt or sand)
Some info about JCV:
https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/cdcs/documents/jamestown-canyon-virus.pdf
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6324a1.htm
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5087598/#!po=32.6923
Organizer
Melanie Gates
Organizer
Vaughn, WA
