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Physician: Woman contracted meningitis from mosquito bite

Infection Control Monitor, May 13, 2005

The physician of a Georgia woman who developed viral meningitis in April says a mosquito bite caused the dangerous infection, reports The Valdosta (GA) Daily Times.

Patricia Wiseman, 48, suffered from fever, headache, stiff neck, and tiredness when her physician identified the condition as viral meningitis. He said it was likely caused by Eastern equine encephalitis, a rare viral disease spread by mosquitoes.

Eastern equine encephalitis, which is found mainly along the Eastern seaboard, can affect the nervous system and result in death.

Wiseman will likely require between three and six months of recovery time.

Health officials fear this is just the beginning of an active mosquito summer. Recent heavy and steady rains increased the mosquito population.

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