@article{utz_apperson_dietz_2005, title={Social impacts of La Crosse encephalitis, in North Carolina}, volume={64}, ISSN={["1938-3525"]}, DOI={10.17730/humo.64.2.xa6yqcmf13qnu2k9}, abstractNote={La Crosse (LAC) encephalitis, caused by a mosquito-transmitted virus, is endemic in the mountains of North Carolina and increasingly recognized in other areas of southern Appalachia. To obtain information on the social and familial impacts of LAC encephalitis in North Carolina, adult case patients (n = 2) and the parents/guardians of juvenile case patients (n = 23) were interviewed. Non-monetary quantitative and qualitative methods were used to estimate the burden of disease over the cumulative life years that elapsed from the onset of illness to the date of interviews. The largest portion of the psychological and social impact of LAC encephalitis was borne by case patients with lifelong neurological sequelae (the aftereffect of a disease or injury) (n = 5). Case patients (n = 16) manifesting transitory sequelae were impacted to a lesser extent, but signi?cantly greater (P < 0.05) than patients (n = 4) who recovered completely from the illness. Prior to a family member contracting the illness, 80% of study participants were unaware of LAC encephalitis; consequently, they were not concerned about the health impacts of the disease. Lack of public awareness appears to result in part because LAC encephalitis is presently is under-reported and under-recognized by the medical community. The disease burden imposed by LAC encephalitis could be reduced if the public health community would develop disease prevention education and engage in active case surveillance coupled with case reporting and follow-up assistance to families. The La Crosse encephalitis prevention program should be community-based, but include organization of a mosquito abatement agency staffed with professional mosquito biologists. The social impacts of LAC encephalitis are representative of effects expected from other neuroinvasive arboviral diseases, such as West Nile encephalitis, for which there are relatively fewer case patients in long-term recovery.}, number={2}, journal={HUMAN ORGANIZATION}, author={Utz, JT and Apperson, CS and Dietz, EJ}, year={2005}, pages={135–146} }