Comparative Epidemiologies of Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus, Western Equine Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus, and West Nile Virus

摘要

Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV), Western equine encephalitis virus (WEEV) and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus(es) (VEEV) have been placed in the family Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus. West Nile virus (WNV) has been placed in the family Flaviviridae genus Flavivirus. The alphaviruses are related to each other but none are related to any flavivirus. Still, the ways in which these viruses persist, are moved from place to place, and cause disease can be similar, depending on the virus. Certainly a clinical diagnosis can be used only to provide a provisional assessment of the infecting agent; laboratory conformation is required for final and definitive (confirmed) diagnosis.