One summer, bird watchers and zookeepers in a major city notice that more birds than usual are dying. At the same time reports of human encephalitis cases increase sharply. The cerebrospinal fluid of human patients is clear. Similar enveloped RNA virus particles are detected in samples from both birds and humans. Which of the following might be responsible for this outbreak?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fact that both birds and humans are affected, and that similar RNA virus particles are found in both, suggest that the virus is likely transmitted by a vector that can infect both species. Arboviruses are arthropod-borne viruses that can be transmitted by insects such as mosquitoes or ticks, and can cause encephalitis in humans and other animals. Coxsackie A virus and Neisseria meningitidis are not associated with arthropod vectors, while Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungus and not a virus. Rabies virus is primarily transmitted by mammalian bites and is not associated with arthropod vectors.

One Summer, Bird Watchers and Zookeepers in a Major City