La Crosse Virus (LACV) is the most common cause of pediatric arboviral encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, in the United States. The disease, which is transmitted by the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, is endemic to Appalachia including hotspots in Eastern Tennessee, Western North Carolina, West Virginia, and Ohio. The social and economic impacts of this disease on affected children and families are significant. Despite the repeated threat, evidence on how to prevent and treat the disease is lacking.

Cases from 2003-2023

Human Disease Cases

Hospitalizations

Deaths

Ross Boyce, MD, MSc, researcher and principal investigator of the research study at UNC School of Medicine

Ross Boyce, MD, MSc, a researcher with the Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases at the UNC School of Medicine, studies La Crosse and other vector-borne diseases, including malaria in the highlands of western Uganda. He says when it comes to prevention and control, malaria and La Crosse have a lot in common. In rural Uganda, where transportation options are limited, getting patients to the clinic is the hardest part. Once there, effective diagnostics and treatment are available. That’s not the case for La Crosse. “There is no vaccine, no good diagnostic testing options, and no anti-viral treatment for La Crosse. So, I would consider it in the realm of neglected tropical diseases, where Western North Carolina, along with Ohio, probably bears the highest burden of virus,” Boyce said.

“It’s odd to think of this seemingly exotic, yet little known mosquito-borne virus that primarily impacts kids being so potentially life altering. The long-term sequelae of La Crosse infection can contribute to poor academic performance, impaired physical functioning and behavioral problems. And it happens in these really rural counties of western North Carolina. Every time I talk about La Crosse, people—including many physicians—are surprised to learn this is happening essentially in our own backyard.”

Ross Boyce, MD, MSc, says the bulk of the La Crosse disease occurs in the Appalachian range where dense hardwoods are found, and tree holes make the perfect place for mosquitoes to lay eggs.

Looking Glass Mountain, Brevard, NC

Photo Credit: VisitNC

The current goal of our research collaboration is to collect initial data that will lay an important foundation for future efforts to reduce disease transmission in the community as well as the treatment of infected patients. We believe that this innovative research collaboration – with work ranging from the backyard to the hospital ICU – will propel these efforts forward and make the site the premier location for La Crosse virus research.

What We're Trying to Accomplish:

Understanding the complex links between backyard mosquitoes, wildlife (e.g., squirrels and chipmunks) that may harbor the virus, and human disease
Identifying gaps in clinical care, including treatment of acute infection and long-term sequelae
Developing effective and sustainable approaches to control mosquito populations

To achieve these, we’ve brought together partners from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Western Carolina University, Mission Hospital, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institutes of Health with the ultimate goal of eliminating La Crosse virus as a public health threat.